Today, the situation surrounding books in countries worldwide is changing dramatically in the globalized electronic environment.

In the first half of the 15th century, the mass distribution of books changed enormously because of the Gutenberg-type printing. Humans experienced the first revolution. About 600 years later, humans are experiencing the second revolution. In the early 21st century, there are signs of a shift from the age of paper books to the age of paperless books, and this could change the distribution environment for books significantly.

The Japan P.E.N. Club has been working on this issue since early on, establishing the Digital Library in 2001.

The Japan P.E.N. Digital Library introduces literary works from classic to modern. It covers poetry, essays, novels, and critical works in various fields. We are happy to hear that this site is sometimes used as a reference for Japanologists and those who study the Japanese language.

Please visit our website and enjoy Japan.
Japan P.E.N. Club Digital Library.