Institute for the Study of Western Books; Institute for the Investigation of Foreign Books
Historical term for a late Edo-period government institute that translated and studied Western books, especially Dutch ones. Later renamed 洋書調所 and then 開成所.
The Institute for the Study of Western Books was established at the end of the Edo period to research Western learning.
Later name for the same institution, reflecting a shift from 'foreign books' to 'Western books'.
Successor institution that expanded into a broader school of Western learning, eventually becoming part of the University of Tokyo.
From 蕃書 (foreign books, especially Western ones) + 調所 (investigation office). The exact derivation is straightforward; the term is a historical compound name.