A historically significant Meiji-era Japanese textbook, titled 『高等小学読本 第五編』(Kōtō Shōgaku Tokuhon, Volume 5) — meaning Higher Elementary School Reader, Book 5 — officially approved by the Ministry of Education (文部省検定済).
Printed in Meiji 20 (1887) and revised in Meiji 21 (1888), this work was part of Japan’s early national education system established after the 1872 Gakusei (Education Order).
The book contains reading passages, moral lessons, and scientific explanations written in classical Japanese with furigana annotations to aid young learners.
It also includes woodblock illustrations — such as nature scenes, family life, and scientific diagrams — reflecting the modernization of Meiji Japan and its blend of Confucian ethics and Western learning.
This volume provides a rare glimpse into how Japanese students in the 19th century were taught literacy, ethics, and science — a crucial artifact for collectors of Japanese educational history, Meiji literature, and early printed books.
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Title: 高等小学読本 第五編 (Kōtō Shōgaku Tokuhon, Vol. 5)
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Date: Meiji 20–21 (1887–1888)
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Authors: 西村正三郎 (Nishimura Seizaburō), 池永厚 (Ikenaga Atsushi)
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Publisher: 文部省 (Ministry of Education)
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Language: Classical Japanese with furigana
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Printing: Movable type / woodblock hybrid
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Content: Reading lessons, moral education, and science topics
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Illustrations: Ink woodblock scenes (landscapes, astronomy, daily life)
During the Meiji period (1868–1912), Japan introduced a Western-style educational system. The Kōtō Shōgaku Tokuhon series was among the first standardized national textbooks used in schools across the country.
Each volume gradually increased in difficulty, teaching students moral values, history, and emerging scientific understanding—blending traditional virtues with modern thought.
Volume 5, shown here, covers natural science, ethics, geography, and moral conduct, accompanied by beautifully detailed woodblock prints illustrating rural and domestic life.
