Introduction to Shiryo-kan Records’ documents, which shed light on its expansion scheme of functioning as the National Archives in Occupied Japan

Relic in Togoshi-site Yayoi Tsutsui

MA in Archival Science, Gakushuin University, Tokyo, Japan. E-mail: [email protected] (by March 2014)

Introduction

Shiryo-kan

New Building in Tachikawa —the Historical Documents Institution, the Ministry of Education—started as the archives to custody the ordinary people’s historical materials which were scattered and lost in the chaotic times after WWII.

Shiryo-kan

was officially established in May 1951, however, collection of the historic documents had been set in1947.

Shiryo-kan Records

is the institutional archives of

Shiryo-kan

, which later became the Department of Historical Documents, National Institute of Japanese Literature, and closed in 2004. National Institute of Japanese Literature* still provides 8 week “Archives college” course to train people as archivists.

Shiryo-kan Records

has been made open to public since 2006 in NIJL Library, though access to some documents is restricted. Examining the documents in

Shiryo-kan Records Shiryo-kan

leads us to the fact that operated with the consciousness that it should function as the National Archives, using the Euro- American Archives as its model. *http://www.nijl.ac.jp/ Historic background and Early days of

Shiryo-kan

ca.1940

Aug 1945 Sep 1945 Plan of “Kokushi-kan” (National History-hall) Potsdam Declaration was accepted.

Japanese Instrument of Surrender signed, GHQ/SCAP started occupation and control.

Aug 1947 Ministry of Education called for the meeting on preserving historical documents Nov 1947 Decision to establish the research committee for scientific data at Toyo Bunko Oct 1948 Preparatory committee for establishment of

Shiryo-kan

started (soon cancelled) Jan 1949 Establishment of the Science Council of Japan Mar 1949 96 scholars submitted of Historical Materials Petition for the Institute to the Diet Apr 1949 Fact-finding Conference on Archives in the world May 1949 Enactment of Act for Establishment of Ministry of Education (Administrator of

Shiryo-kan

was changed.) Oct 1949 Government purchased the Mitsui Bunko Nov 1949 the First meeting of the Science Encouragement Council Division Science Data Nov 1949 Opening Ceremony of

Shiryo-kan

and Exhibition were held at ex-Mitsui Bunko May 1950 May 1951 Sep 1951 Apr 1952 Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties Official Opening of

Shiryo-kan

by law San Francisco Peace Treaty was signed.

San Francisco Peace Treaty came into effect.

Recovery of Independency of Japan

Shiryo-kan Records

in the former office After the arrangement to preserve NIJL and

Shiryo-kan

May 1972 The NIJL (Administration Department, Literary Documents Department and Research Information Department) is established.

Shiryo-kan

, the Ministry of Education Historical Archives (established in 1951) are incorporated into the NIJL.

Apr 2004 The NIJL is incorporated as a National Institutes for the Humanities’ Inter-University Research Institute Corporation; the organization of the NIJL is revised in line with its incorporation. Mar 2008 The NIJL moves to the New Building in Tachikawa City.

The building is shared with the Institute of Statistical Mathematics and National Institute of Polar Research.

Feb 2013 Opening of Public Park in Togoshi-site

Documents relevant to establishment of Shiryo-kan and indicating its expansion scheme for functioning as the National Archives

・ Aug1947 Call for the meeting on preserving historical documents ・ Nov 1947 Establishment of the Archives (Ministry of Education) ・ Mar 1949 ・ Apr 1949 ・ Nov 1949 Petition for Institute of Historical Materials Fact-finding Conference on Archives in the world Greetings for opening ceremony of

Shiryo-kan

the Minister of Education ・ Nov 1950 Management Manual of

Shiryo-kan

・ Jul 1951 Minutes of the first meeting of

Shiryo-kan

by Councils

Documents provided in English or French

•The national archives what it is and what it does (National Archives Publication No.44-6) •Outlines of researches and preservation of archives in Japan •Establishment of the Archives (Ministry of Education) •Petition for Institute of Historical Materials • Archives Nationale France •How we collect the scientific materials •Regulations for evaluation committee for purchasing historical materials •The National Archives & Records Service Record Groups •Select Bibliography •Regulations for historical materials hall, Ministry of Education ordinance •Regulations for the use of records in custody of the archivist of the united states •Public Record Office/Rules And Regulations

Discussion

National Archives of Japan was established in 1971 as an affiliate organization of the Prime Minister's Office.

Shiryo-kan

was merged into NIJL, however, it is still the center of archival studies and engaged in preserving the documents among people, which often tell the governance of Edo-period due to the Shogunate system.

This poster is based on the part of the article published in the Bulletin of the National Institute of Japanese Literature Archival Studies (March 2013) and presented by the courtesy of co-author Prof. Kazuo Ohtomo.