[Library Network] Kyoto University Rare Materials Digital Archive: 2 items held by the Institute for Research in Humanities have been newly released
The Yongle Encyclopedia, compiled by imperial order of the Ming Emperor Yongle, is one of China's largest encyclopedias, consisting of 22,877 volumes with 60 volumes of indexes. Compiled by Xie Jin and Yao Guangxiao, among others, it was completed in 1407. It includes a comprehensive collection of texts dating back to the early Ming dynasty, either part by part or in their entirety. Many of these texts are already lost, making them an extremely valuable resource for passing on their contents to future generations. When compiling the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries (Siku Quanshu), Emperor Qianlong of the Qing dynasty extracted lost texts from the Yongle Encyclopedia and restored them. The original manuscript was lost, and most copies were destroyed during the Boxer Rebellion and other events. Currently, only approximately 400 volumes remain worldwide. The materials being released this time are volumes 665 and 666. The Kyoto University Rare Materials Digital Archive also has other images of Yongle Encyclopedia available.
Bukkoku Rekishohen is a treatise on Buddhist astronomy written by Entsu, a monk of the late Edo period. In this work, Entsu attempted to systematize a theory of astronomical calendar-making that remained consistent with the worldview found in Buddhist scriptures. He criticized the Western theories of a spherical Earth and heliocentrism, which were gaining popularity in Japan at the time, and instead argued for a flat earth and the existence of Mount Meru (Sumeru), the sacred mountain at the center of the Buddhist universe. This book served as the starting point for the "Bonreki (Buddhist Calendar) Movement," which continued into the early modern era.
As of March 4th, 2026, the Kyoto University Rare Materials Digital Archive has released 25,907 titles and 2,155,881 images.
[Maintenance] "KURENAI Deposit System" has been temporarily inaccessible（03/05 17:00-17:15）
KURENAI Deposit System will be temporarily unavailable for maintenance during the following time:
- Date: March 5th, 2026 (Thursday)
- Time: 17:00 PM - 17:15 PM (JST, estimated)
We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation.
[Repository Section, Main Library]
Posted: 2026-03-04
[Library Network] Conditions of Use and Licensing Restrictions for E-Resource
Prohibited Actions When Using Electronic Resources
Mass Downloading Strictly Prohibited
- Automated operations or bulk downloads using programs
- Rapid consecutive clicks (prohibited even manually)
- Access via browser prefetch functions
- Copying, redistribution, or use beyond personal purposes
Cases of Unintentional "Excessive Access"
Cases where actions are considered "attacks" by system specifications are increasing, even without malicious intent.
Multiple people in a lab divided download tasks manually. Since the access source (university IP) was the same, it was detected as concentrated access in a short period.
Clicking through HTML abstracts and full texts one after another. Even without opening PDFs, the request frequency to the server was considered "downloading".
The "auto-import PDF" setting in reference management software was ON, causing repeated mass access in the background.
A book fell on the keyboard, holding down the F5 key (refresh). Hundreds of accesses were recorded in just a few minutes.
Essential! Settings Review Checklist
Reference Management Software (Turn OFF Auto-DL)
Prevent unintended background communication.
| Paperpile | Settings > Storage & Sync OFF "Automatically download PDFs" |
|---|---|
| EndNote Click Mendeley |
Disable the extension or uncheck "Automatically add PDFs" in settings. |
| Zotero | Do not run "Find PDF" on multiple selections. Turn OFF Connector proxy settings when off-campus. |
| ReadCube | Do not use "LOCATE PDF" on multiple selections. |
Web Browser (Turn OFF Prefetch)
"Page loading speed improvement" features access sites in the background.
| EEdge | Settings > Cookies and site data OFF "Preload pages for..." |
|---|---|
| CChrome | Settings > Performance OFF "Preload pages" |
| SSafari | Preferences > Search OFF "Preload Top Hit in..." |
| FFirefox | about:config > network.prefetch-next false Change value to "false" |
Generative AI & Data Mining
* Uploading content to cloud-based generative AI may constitute copyright infringement.
Strict Account Management
"Lending your ID to others" or "using someone else's ID" is prohibited under Kyoto University's Information System Usage Regulations.
Posters & Flyers
[Solved] Partial Outage of Search Services
We are currently experiencing intermittent instability with the search services listed below.
- The “Discovery” on the Library Network website
- E-Journals / E-Books List
- Links accessed via the “eJournal” button in KULINE search results
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
[Main Library] To those who will leave Kyoto University in March： Deadline for Interlibrary Loan (ILL) and Payments
・Those who would like to order documents from other universities (photocopy, loan), please apply by Thursday, 5 March.
・Those who have borrowed books from other universities, the deadline for returning them is Wednesday, 18 March.
・Those who haven't received or paid yet, you should do so as soon as you can.
・If you will be enrolled after April, please indicate that in the comments on your application.
*This news is for users of Kyoto University Main Library.
*The deadline differs for libraries other than the main library. Please check with each library for details.
[Infomation Service Section, Kyoto University Library]
[Important] Introduction of Multi-Factor Authentication for E-Journal and Database Access
*Multi-factor authentication has been introduced. Please refer to the explanation below when using it. (2026.2.19).
*Added a note that short-term IDs are not subject to multi-factor authentication (no one-time password required) (2025.12.25).
Starting Thursday, February 19, 2026, as part of our security enhancement measures, we will introduce the university's multi-factor authentication (at our university, "two-factor authentication" combining two elements) operated by the Institute for Information Management and Communication for access to electronic journals and databases.
There will be no major changes to the procedure itself, but the login screen flow and input fields will change. This is the same as logging into student email (KUMOI) or faculty/staff email (KUMail).
With the introduction of multi-factor authentication, in addition to your ECS-ID/SPS-ID and password, you will need to enter a "one-time password" generated by your smartphone or an authentication app.
*Access with a short-term ID is not subject to multi-factor authentication (no one-time password is required).
1. Overview of Changes
In addition to conventional ID and password authentication, we will require a second factor (one-time password) for identity verification, thereby improving the security level.
This will reduce the risk of unauthorized use due to leakage of IDs and passwords.
| Before Change (Current) | ECS-ID or SPS-ID + Password |
|---|---|
| After Change (From February 19, 2026) |
1. ECS-ID or SPS-ID + Password 2. One-Time Password (6-digit or 8-digit number) *If you use a short-term ID, a one-time password is not required. |
2. How to Use After Multi-Factor Authentication Introduction
The basic flow of "clicking the bookmarklet to authenticate" remains unchanged.
Connection Procedure
*Please enter the code from an authenticator app such as Google Authenticator, a browser extension, or an email notification.
3. Advance Preparation Required
To use multi-factor authentication, you need to complete the university-wide multi-factor authentication setup in advance.
If you have not yet completed the setup, please refer to the following manual.
Multi-Factor Authentication Getting Started Manual (Institute for Information Management and Communication)
https://u.kyoto-u.jp/mfa-start-en
[Contact]
Main Library, Electronic Resources Team
https://www.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/form/14106?lang=en
【Main Library : Questionnaires】What’s Your “Core Book”？ (Feb. 16 – Mar. 31)
<Period: Monday, February 16 to Tuesday, March 31, 2026>
<Subject: Current Kyoto University students or those graduating this spring>
As the academic year draws to a close, why not take a moment to reflect on your studies and research at Kyoto University? We imagine books have always been a constant presence. For you,
• The books that shaped who you are today
• The books that shaped your research
• The books you want to talk about their appeal
...what are they?
We have collectively named them “Core Books.”
Please introduce one of your cherished Core Books.
Fill out and submit the following questionnaires (https://forms.gle/hcwrfREWr36eQCLW6) to display the "keyword." At the Library Counter 2, show the “Keyword” screen (displayed on your smartphone) and your student ID to the staff.
Participants who respond will receive original library goods (not for sale).
The redemption period is February 16 to March 31.
[Kyoto University User Support Division]
[Library: for KU members] Briefing Session on Rule Changes for Open Access (JSPS KAKENHI, etc.) (March 10, 2026)
The Kyoto University Library Network will hold a briefing session regarding the "Rule Changes for Open Access (JSPS KAKENHI, etc.)" that will apply from FY2026.
[Mar 12, 2026 Update] Briefing materials and recording are now available on kubar (Japanese only; SPS-ID/ECS-ID required).
https://kubar.rd.iimc.kyoto-u.ac.jp/oa_seminar_20260310/
Under the "Basic Policy on the Realization of Immediate Open Access to Scholarly Publications (National Policy)", research projects selected for KAKENHI and other public funds from FY2025 onwards will be mandated to provide immediate open access to scholarly papers and their underlying data. Consequently, researchers will be required to take new measures, such as registering their work in KURENAI (Kyoto University Research Information Repository) and managing Article Processing Charges (APC).
In this session, we will provide specific, practical guidance on support measures, including how to provide OA for papers and research data through KURENAI and
the APC discount schemes offered by Kyoto University.
We will also discuss international trends in Open Science and the significance of both the National and Kyoto University OA policies.
Event Details
Date & Time: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 | 13:15 – 14:45
Language: Japanese Only
Target Audience: Researchers affiliated with Kyoto University (especially those planning to receive competitive research funds such as KAKENHI).
Format: Online (Zoom)
*No prior registration is required.
Zoom connection information
- Faculty and Staff: Please check the Faculty and Staff Groupware (SPS-ID login required).
https://ku1.cybozu.com/g/bulletin/view.csp?cid=68&aid=23473 - Students: Please check the KULASIS Bulletin Board (on-campus access only).
https://www.k.kyoto-u.ac.jp/internal/information_detail?no=8633&display_lang=en
Program:
Moderator：Honami Numajiri (Assistant Professor, Research and Development Laboratory, Kyoto University Library)
13:15 International Trends and the Significance of Open Science Leading to the National OA Basic Policy
Yasuhiro Murayama, Professor, R&D Laboratory, Kyoto University Library
13:35 National and Kyoto University Policies on Open Access and Research Data Sharing
Chifumi Nishioka, Associate Professor, Institute for Information Management and Communication
13:55 Open Access Support by the Library Network－Providing OA for Papers and Research Data via KURENAI
Repository Section, Kyoto University Library
14:10 APC Discount Schemes at Kyoto University
Electronic Resources Section, Kyoto University Library
14:25 Q&A Session
References:
The National Policy on Promoting Open Access to Publicly Funded Scholarly Publications and Scientific Data
https://www.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/openaccess/1404342?lang=en
Discounts on Article Processing Charge (APC) Publishing
https://www.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/openaccess/1404336?lang=en
[Research Support Division, Kyoto University Library]
Submit: 2026-02-13
[Maintenance] "KURENAI" has been temporarily inaccessible（02/12 8:30-13:00）
KURENAI will be temporarily unavailable for maintenance during the following time:
- Date: February 12th, 2026 (Thursday)
- Time: 8:30 AM - 13:00 PM (JST, estimated)
We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation.
[Repository Section, Main Library]
Posted: 2026-02-12
[Main Library] "Books on Japan" section has been newly established!
The Education Center for Japanese Language and Culture of the ILAS operates a Japanese Language Resource Room to support the learning of our international students.
Main Library has established a new "Books on Japan" section to enable more individuals to access books for Japanese language learning and understanding Japanese culture.
We have carefully selected materials recommended by Centre faculty members.
Alongside Japanese Language Resource Room, we hope you will find this section useful for your daily studies and research.