Hosa Library, Nagoya

The Hōsa Library, situated within the Ōzone Shimoyashiki compound in Nagoya, serves as a vital cultural repository, particularly renowned for its extensive collection of Japanese and Chinese classics originally owned by the Owari Tokugawa family. Established by Tokugawa Yoshinao, the first lord of the Owari Domain, the library initially functioned as an official archive before being transferred to Nagoya City in 1950.

As of today, the library boasts approximately 110,000 items, ranging from classic literature to over 2,000 paintings and invaluable historical documents. These include maps of Nagoya Castle town, various world maps, and detailed property and garden drawings, all once belonging to the Owari-Tokugawa family. The diversity of genres and materials housed here marks one of the library's defining features.

In 1978, Hōsa Library became a branch of the Nagoya City Museum, enhancing its educational and cultural offerings. The library is known for its open archive policy, allowing public access to a significant portion of its collections in the reading room, with options for copying certain documents. It regularly hosts exhibitions and lectures in cooperation with the neighboring Tokugawa Art Museum and Tokugawa Garden, focusing on the knowledge and culture of samurai families and providing insights into early-modern samurai culture.

A new building for the library was inaugurated in November 2004, further enhancing its capabilities and outreach as a cultural institution. This modern facility continues to attract scholars, historians, and general enthusiasts eager to explore the depths of Nagoya's samurai history and its impact on contemporary Japanese culture.