The Keio University
and the
HUMI Project

What is the Keio University?

The Keio University is the oldest Western style University in Japan. It was founded in 1858 by Yukichi Fukuzawa, a leading figure of the age, who promoted enlightenment and the need to learn from Western Civilisation. At the time, Japan was transforming itself from a feudal society into a modern state.
Today, the Keio University has nine academic departments, as well as a medical school and teaching hospital in central Tokyo. Unlike the British system, Keio maintains a primary school and several secondary schools, all located around Tokyo. It also maintains the Keio Academy of New York, a high school in New York state, USA.
Keio is recognised for its innovative teaching and research activities, and is a pioneer among higher education institutions in Japan.

What is the connection between the Keio University and West Suffolk?

In 1995, the Keio University acquired Nowton Court from the Matsuzato Corporation of Hawaii, who had run the premises as a ladies college for young female Japanese students.
Nowton Court, located on the edge of Bury St Edmunds, was built in 1835, by Orbell Oakes, the son of Bury's best known banker, James Oakes. It was used as a private home, but in the 20th century, it became a Preparatory School for boys, then a Ladies College for Japanese students, and then passed to Keio University.
Since 1995, Keio University has used it as a centre for international activities and programmes. Pupils at Keio's various schools visit during the Summer to experience British culture, and promote friendship with schools in the area.

What about the HUMI Project?

In 1996, Keio university began research into the digitisation of historic books, and set up an inter-faculty organisation called the Humanities Media Interface (HUMI) Project. One of its first tasks was to invent, and then implement, a safe and effective way to digitize the contents of old, rare and inevitably fragile books and documents. Various types of cameras were tested, and certain peripheral equipment had to be developed.
Once this was achieved, it was possible to envisage complex research projects, using the digital images, which would be impossible using conventional methods. In 1998, work began to digitise the Gutenburg Bible owned by the Cambridge University Library. Other Gutenburg Bibles held in Mainz and London were also photographed. Comparisons could now be made of the different editions in order to identify the various editions produced, and even how many different printing presses may have been used over the years.

Where does the Bury Bible fit in?

In 2001, the Keio University decided to set up its HUMI Project at its premises in the United Kingdom, at Nowton Court, just outside Bury St Edmunds. To launch the project in its new home, it was felt appropriate to begin with the Bury Bible, located conveniently nearby, in the Parker Library at Corpus Christi College in Cambridge.
The Project began in May, 2001, and was completed in the Summer. At the same time, Professor R M Thomson completed his book on the Bury Bible, for the Woodbridge based publishers, Boydell and Brewer. The Keio images were reproduced in facsimile size as part of the new book, and 2001 thus saw the publication of many of these images for the first time ever.
On 22nd November 2001, the Digital Bible and the book "The Bury Bible", were officially launched at the Parker Library, and the Mayor of St Edmundsbury Borough Council was presented with copies on behalf of the people of the town and its surroundings. Copies were also presented to the Parker Library.

Prepared for the St Edmundsbury website
by David Addy, January 2002

Books consulted:
The Bury Bible - Written by R M Thomson, 2001. Published by Boydell and Brewer.
All images in the book were digitised by the Keio University.


Go to Bible
Homepage
Updated 12 January 2002 Go to Home Page