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Materials accessible through the Internet
The materials accessible through the Internet are materials considered useful for understanding Japan's past relationship with various neighboring Asian countries and regions, which the Japanese Government's various institutions are making available to the public from among their collections, spanning from the beginning of the Meiji era to the end of the Pacific War. With its online information system, JACAR currently provides access through the Internet to official documents of 3 collection institutions, including their reports of investigation. These official documents are sorted according to the cataloging systems of their respective collection institutions, and compiled in "files" of varying formats and units of item or period, etc. The files are further sorted into individual historical record "items" with their own titles, according to their subject matter.
The National Archives of Japan
Among the collection of the National Archives of Japan, JACAR currently provides access to materials assembled to the Japanese Cabinet from the Meiji era to closing years of World War II during the Showa era. As these materials also include vast amounts relating to domestic affairs, we are extracting those that concern Asian history for the convenience of the user. As of June 2002, JACAR has made approx. 120,000 images and catalog of approx. 30,000 items accessible through the Internet in the 3 historical record series below. We are planning to also provide "Kobun Zassan" （materials not entered in "Kobun Ruishu" that were received by the Cabinet dating from the 19th year of the Meiji era （1886）, compiled according to government agency and year）, "Goshomei Gempon" （original documents promulgating laws and treaties, with name and seal of the Emperor）, "Sumitsuin Kaigi Kankei Shorui" （document related to Privy Council meetings）, and others in the future.
| Dajo Ruiten | Dajo Ruiten is the compilation of records collected by the Dajokan, the central administrative organ of the Government until the Meiji Government adopted the cabinet system. These records cover the period from October of the 3rd year of the Keio era （1867） to the 14th year of the Meiji era （1881）. Consisting of copies and originals of journals of the Dajokan, regulations concerning ceremonies, diplomatic documents, and others, the materials are valuable records of such matters as treaties of friendship Japan concluded with various foreign countries during the early Meiji era. |
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| Kobun Roku | Kobun Roku are original copies of official documents that the Dajokan received from the 1st year of the Meiji era （1868） to Meiji 18 （1885） sorted by ministry or agency concerned and year, designated as the country's important cultural property. Among the records of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are detailed records concerning establishment of diplomatic relations with various foreign countries, arranged in chronological order. |
| Kobun Ruishu | Kobun Ruishu is a collection of official documents that were compiled under the Dajo Ruiten title until Meiji 14 （1881） and that took the present title in Meiji 15 （1882）. Starting from Meiji 19 （1886）, original proceedings for laws and regulations have been placed in this category. As of June 2002, JACAR has provides access through the Internet to Asian historical records up to the 11th year of the Showa era （1936）. |
Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
JACAR currently provides access through the Internet to materials collected and made available to the public by The Diplomatic Record Archives generally referred to as "The Foreign Ministry records." These are records on diplomatic activities from the early years of the Meiji era to the end of World War II, including telegrams and official correspondence exchanged with embassies and legations abroad, reports of investigation, materials on policy making, and other valuable diplomatic documents and materials. Records used to execute duties were unfortunately destroyed by fire during the Ministry of Foreign Affairs fire in 1942 and air raids from May to August 1945, and others. A part of records requisitioned by the U.S. armed forces and seized as materials for the Military Tribunal for the Far East were lost after the war. Records transcribed by Matsumoto Tadao who served as Parliamentary Vice Minister from 1937 to 1939 fortunately include a part of materials lost and these are accessible through the Internet as the "Matsumoto Record." "The Foreign Ministry records" are divided into "Meiji and Taisho eras" and "early Showa-War period" according to their systems of classification.
| * Meiji/Taisho compilation | This compilation has approximately 22,000 files arranged into 8 categories such as politics, treaties, commerce, etc. |
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| * Early Showa-War Period compilation | This compilation, which also includes materials relating to the end of World War II, has approximately 26,000 files classified into 16 categories such as politics, diplomacy, treaties, economics, etc |
| Materials currently accessible on the Internet | The materials currently accessible through the Internet are "Category A" （Politics and Diplomacy） of "Early Showa era" consisting of approx. 2,200 files, approx. 600,000 images, and 30,000 catalog items. Included are valuable records concerning the Sino-Japanese War and the outbreak of the Pacific War. |
The National Institute for Defense Studies of the Ministry of Defense
The official documents and materials collected and made available to the public by National Institute for Defense Studies of the Ministry of Defense are ones concerning the former Japanese Army and Navy. The former Japanese Army and Navy destroyed by fire large quantities of materials at the end of the Pacific War. In the chaos of the end of the war, a lot of valuable materials were scattered and lost as well. Official documents of the Ministry of War and Ministry of the Navy that escaped war flames moreover were seized by the U.S. armed forces and placed under the control of State Department in Washington. At present, the library is holding these former Japanese Army and Navy materials seized by the United States at the end of the war and returned in 1958 （materials returned by U.S. Government）, materials maintained and stored by the "Demobilization Bureau" of the Ministry of Public Welfare, and those collected by The National Institute for Defense Studies, amounting to approx. 81,000 files relating to the former Japanese Army and 35,000 files relating to the former Japanese Navy.
| Former Japanese Army-related materials * Ministry of War Journals | These are official documents the Ministry of War compiled dating from Meiji 1 （1868） to 1942, centering on materials relating to military government. There are about 20 kinds such as "Mitsu-Dainikki," "Rikushi-mitsu," "Rikuman-mitsu," and others. |
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| * Field journals and battle details, etc. | Official documents produced by army units, etc., comprising various battle records from the establishment of the former Japanese Army to the end of the war in 1945. |
| Former Japanese Navy-related materials * Navy official documents and notes | These are official documents the Ministry of the Navy compiled dating from Meiji 9 （1877） to 1937 classified into 20 kinds such as education, battleship, ordnance, etc. |
| * Field journals and battle details, etc. | Official documents produced by squadrons, etc., comprising various battle records from the establishment of the former Japanese Navy to the end of the war in 1945. |
Materials accessible through the Internet
The materials currently accessible on the Internet are approx. 1000 files, approx. 1,200,000 images, and approx. 80,000 catalog items of the Showa era portion of Ministry of War Journals. The Ministry of War Journals classification include "Gunji Kimitsu Dainikki" and "Rikumitsu" series comprising order notifications, etc., concerning general military administrative affairs of strategy, impedimenta, mobilization, etc., "Rikuman-Kimitsu Dainikki" comprising secret documents concerning the Manchurian Incident compiled by the Ministry of War, and others.
