BAKUMATSUYA

Bakumatsuya is a specialist dealer in rare books and historical materials relating to Japan, based in Yokohama. Its collection spans mainly the 1600s to the 1930s, with particular interest in the 1850s to 1870s, when Japan was opening to the West. The business serves private collectors, dealers, museums, universities, and other public and private institutions in Japan and overseas.

Its offerings include Japanese books in Japanese and Western languages, illustrated books and manuscripts, scrolls and paintings, dictionaries, phrase books, maps, guidebooks, woodblock prints and ukiyo-e, old photographs and albums, catalogues, newspapers, diaries, and other printed ephemera. Bakumatsuya prioritizes quality and rarity over quantity, and also seeks to acquire rare items. Customers can contact the business about specific collecting interests or ask it to look for particular materials. It issues digital catalogues every few months and welcomes requests to join its mailing list. The business operates from a private residence, so visits to inspect items are available by appointment.