How to identify a first printing
- Japanese-language titles (1951-present): identify the printing from the colophon (奥付, okuzuke) on the final leaf rather than a western copyright page. The colophon gives the edition and impression as 第1版第1刷 ('1st edition, 1st impression') beside the issue date (発行); a first printing shows 第1刷 with the earliest 発行 date. Any higher impression number (第2刷, 第3刷, etc.) is a later printing.
- English-language / Western titles (earliest years onward): the Press was a pioneer of English-language academic publishing in Asia and uses a western copyright page for these — 'First published [year] by University of Tokyo Press' with the copyright year. A first printing is keyed by that year and the absence of any reprint note; some later-period titles add a number line, lowest digit present indicating the printing.
- Cross-check: for Japanese titles always read the okuzuke — the 版 (edition) and 刷 (impression) figures with the 発行 (issue) date are the authoritative first-printing tells. ISBNs appear on the colophon from the 1980s onward and help date later printings but do not by themselves establish a first.
Notable points & cautions
- Founded 1951 as 東京大学出版会 (Tokyo Daigaku Shuppankai), the University of Tokyo's own press; a member of the Association of University Presses.
- A pioneer of English-language scholarly publishing in Asia, issuing English titles from its earliest years alongside its large Japanese list.
- The Japanese colophon convention (奥付) differs fundamentally from a western copyright page; 第1版第1刷 is the key first-edition/first-impression marker.
- English-language titles are often co-distributed abroad, so a foreign co-publisher may issue its own separate western first.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: University of Tokyo Press, Tokyo Daigaku Shuppankai (東京大学出版会). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my University of Tokyo Press book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Japanese-language titles (1951-present): identify the printing from the colophon (奥付, okuzuke) on the final leaf rather than a western copyright page. The colophon gives the edition and impression as 第1版第1刷 ('1st edition, 1st impression') beside the issue date (発行); a first printing shows 第1刷 with the earliest 発行 date. Any higher impression number (第2刷, 第3刷, etc.) is a later printing. English-language / Western titles (earliest years onward): the Press was a pioneer of English-language academic publishing in Asia and uses a western copyright page for these — 'First published [year] by University of Tokyo Press' with the copyright year. A first printing is keyed by that year and the absence of any reprint note; some later-period titles add a number line, lowest digit present indicating the printing.
Does University of Tokyo Press use a number line?
English-language / Western titles (earliest years onward): the Press was a pioneer of English-language academic publishing in Asia and uses a western copyright page for these — 'First published [year] by University of Tokyo Press' with the copyright year. A first printing is keyed by that year and the absence of any reprint note; some later-period titles add a number line, lowest digit present indicating the printing.
Is a book-club edition a University of Tokyo Press first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1951 as 東京大学出版会 (Tokyo Daigaku Shuppankai), the University of Tokyo's own press; a member of the Association of University Presses.
What era does this cover?
This covers University of Tokyo Press (1951-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.