This library was opened by kobayashi ichizo in 1949. it has a total of about 280,000 books and magazines, including materials related to the hankyu railway and performance materials for the takarazuka revue and kabuki theatre. among the materials are some valuable books collected for takarazuka revue performances during the time when the takarazuka literary library, the predecessor of the ikeda bunko, was in use. materials can be viewed in the library, and can also be searched and viewed at the hankyu cultural archives.