Josiah Conder (1852-1920), also known as Kondoru-sensei, was hired by the Meiji Japanese government as the first professor of architecture for the Imperial College of Engineering (now Faculty of Engineering, University of Tokyo). After receiving the Soane Medallion Prize of the RIBA he arrived in Japan in 1877, spending the rest of his life there. Often called the ‘father of Japanese architecture’, he established the education of architecture in Japan and most of his graduates played essential roles in the development of modern Japan’s architecture. He played a leading role in developing Tokyo as an urban city of Western style, and designed numerous public buildings, including the Rokumeikan, which became a symbol of Westernisation in the Meiji period, as well as Mitsubishi 1-gokan, Nicholai-do, Kyu-Iwasakitei, which are considered landmark buildings of Japanese architecture.

This collection gathers together and reproduces in facsimile 65 of Josiah Conder’s most significant writings related to Japanese architecture, arts and culture. A folio volume of Paintings and Studies by Kawanabe Kyosai,is also included, reproduced in the original size with illustrations and full colour plates, as well as an album of Dr Conder’s photographs and illustrations. Dr Conder’s obituaries appeared in newspapers and journals and these too are included. Together, the material collated for this collection makes it an indispensable resource for any student or scholar of Japanese art and culture.