This study deals with all the aspects of the history of the book in Japan, from the production of manuscripts and printed books to book-collecting, libraries, censorship and readership. It also sets books in the context of Japan's cultural ties with China, Korea and Parhae. The focus is on the history of both texts and physical books. This encompasses not only books in Japanese but also books in Chinese by Chinese and Korean authors, and some Western books as well. It is a reference tool and bibliographic guide for those interested in book studies and particularly for historians of Japanese culture. It is illustrated with examples taken from various collections of early Japanese books in Europe.