Historic background and Early days of Shiryo-kan

ca.1940 Plan of “Kokushi-kan” (National History-hall)

Aug 1945 Potsdam Declaration was accepted.

Sep 1945 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Aug 1947 Ministry of Education called for the meeting on preserving historical documents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 Petition for the Institute of Historical Materials 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 Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties

May 1951 Official Opening of Shiryo-kan by law

Sep 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty was signed.

Apr 1952 San Francisco Peace Treaty came into effect.

Recovery of Independency of Japan

Yayoi TsutsuiMA in Archival Science, Gakushuin University, Tokyo, Japan. E-mail: 13195025@gakushuin.ac.jp (by March 2014)

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

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indicating its expansion scheme for functioning as the National Archives・ Aug1947 Call for the meeting on preserving historical documents・ Nov 1947 Establishment of the Archives (Ministry of Education)・ Mar 1949 Petition for Institute of Historical Materials・ Apr 1949 Fact-finding Conference on Archives in the world・ Nov 1949 Greetings for opening ceremony of Shiryo-kan by the Minister of Education・ Nov 1950 Management Manual of Shiryo-kan・ Jul 1951 Minutes of the first meeting of Shiryo-kan Councils

IntroductionShiryo-kan —the Historical Documents Institution, the Ministry of Education—started as the archives to custody the ordinary people’s historical materials which were scattered and lost in the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 leads us to the fact that Shiryo-kan 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/

　 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.

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

After the arrangement to preserve

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.

NIJL and Shiryo-kanMay 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

Shiryo-kan Records in the former office

Relic in Togoshi-siteNew Building in Tachikawa