This authentic Meiji 32 (1899) edition of Jinjō Shōgaku Tokuhon (尋常小学読本 巻五) is a rare surviving official Japanese school reader issued by the Ministry of Education (文部省) and printed by Dai Nihon Tosho Kabushiki Kaisha.
Created as part of Japan’s first unified national curriculum, the Tokuhon series introduced reading comprehension, moral lessons, and national history to young students during the nation’s rapid modernization. The volume blends simple prose, didactic tales, and woodblock-style illustrations, teaching ethics, diligence, and loyalty through engaging short stories—such as “The Persimmon Lesson,” “The Fox and the Crab,” and moral anecdotes from Japanese legends.
Each page reflects the fusion of Edo-period calligraphy and modern printing, capturing the visual and cultural transition of the Meiji era. The book retains its original washi paper pages and stitched binding, with the distinctive pink Ministry cover sheet, a hallmark of government-approved educational publications at the turn of the 20th century.
This piece is both a historical artifact and a collector’s treasure, offering a glimpse into the classroom values that shaped Japan’s emerging modern identity.
