On this page: Arts | Biographical Information | Business | Economics | Ethnic Studies | Finances | Foreign Relations | Geography | History | Law | Language | Literature | Media | Politics | Religions | Science & Technology

This list includes subscription-based databases. Click on when you access those databases outside the library.

Arts

• Art Libraries' Consortium
  Search for an item in major art museum libraries in Japan.
• Artstor online database
  A digital library of nearly one million images in the areas of art, architecture, the humanities, and social sciences with a set of tools to view, present, and manage images for research and pedagogical purposes.Includes many Japanese arts.
• Bunka Geino Database 文化芸能データベース (Japan Arts Council)
  Searchable databases for images, catalogs of Japanese performing arts.
  
• Bunkazai Online 文化財オンライン
  Japan's Agency of Cultural Affairs' database via NII. Searchable database of images of cultural objects (Japanese only)
• NCC Japan Art Catalog Project via the Sackler/Freer Gallary
  Contains Japanese exhibits catalogs through the Exchange Program (JAC) between the NCC and the National Art Center.
• The Virtual Museum of Japanese Arts
  The site is produced for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Kodansha International Ltd., which is responsible for the contents of the site. Many aspects of Japanese arts in English.
• The University Museum, The University of Tokyo
  Databases for publications of The University of Tokyo: Online versions of the University Museum publications.
• Databases for Art publications 東京大学総合研究博物館
  明治、大正、昭和初期の美術雑誌検索データベース Allows to browse the table of contents of the following art journals: 方寸（1巻1号-5巻3号）、現代の洋画（1-27）、美術園（1-13)、東洋美術（1-20）、みづゑ（No.1、7月号ｰNo. 250、12月号）
• Ukiyoe Gazo Links 浮世絵画像リンク集
  Many links related to Japanese woodblock prints.
• Nihon no Bijutsu
  Translation of titles of each issue created by Ohio State University

Biographical Information

Bibliography

• Japan Knowledge 
  Japanese language world encyclopedia, biographical dictionaries, online books, maps & more.
• Bibliography of Biographical information on people from Ishikawa Prefecture
  Can search by "AIUEO" order of a person's last name.
• NDL Catalog of Japanese Political figures after Meiji (近現代日本政治関係人物文献目録）
  Book catalog for getting information on Japanese political figures after Meiji.
• 皓星社データベース Koseisha 人物情報
  

Dictionaries

• Aozora Bunko sakkabetsu sakuhin risuto (青空文庫作家別作品リスト）
  Provides "yomi," birth/death dates, biographical descriptions of selected writers. Keep clicking until "Sakkabetsu Sakuhin Risuto,"
• Chosakuken no shometsushita sakka risuto (著作権が消滅した作家リスト)
  List of writers, whose copyrights have been expired. Provides the list of names and birth/death dates.
• Dead Writers Society (死せる作家の会）
  Provides birth/death dates of deceased writers, whose copyrights are still valid.
• Japanese Graphic Designers List (日本グラフィックデザイナーの読み方）
  How to read graphic designers' names, who belong to the Japan Graphic Designers Association, Inc.
• Heian Jinbutsu shi (平安人物志　English / Japanese)　
  Nichibunken's database offers a Who's Who of Kyoto in the Edo period. It brings together information on literati and connoisseurs of various arts from all parts of the city and its environs.
• Members of the Japan Reprographic Rights Center (日本複写権センター）
  How to read the JRRC members' names.
• Jinmei Jiten (人名辞典)
  Brief biographical information from various jinmei jiten (the deceased persons only).
• Soteika Jinmei Yomikata Jiten (装丁家人名読み方辞典)
  How to read Japanese book designers' names.
• Nihon Ika Jinmei no Yomikata Jiten (日本医家人名の読み方辞典) How to read people in medicine from Nara and Meiji periods.
• Writers List (日本文藝家協会、日本脚本家連盟、日本美術著作権連合、日本写真著作権協会、日本シナリオ作家協会）
  How to read the member names of these associations.
• Nichigai Webservices : WHO II 
  Writer's biographical information. ( English Search Guides for Nichigai Services )
  

　Descriptions of individuals

• Kinsei Kijinden: sei, zoku (近世畸人伝　正・続　English / Japanese)
  Nichibunken's database provides digitized full text and prints of Kinsei kijinden (EAST DS872.A1 K553 & EAST DS871.75 .B36 1979 ) biographical information of people during the Tokugawa (Edo) period.
  
  
• Online Jinmei Jiten (オンライン人名辞典)
  Koseisha, a publisher, compiled a list of links to an individual biographical information. It includes both Japanese and non-Japanese people.
  
  
• Writers from Japan (English)
  Collection of English language sites of Japanese women writers.
  
  
• Shibusawa Ei'ichi Denki Shiryo (渋沢栄一伝記資料)
  Biographical information of Ei'ichi Shibusawa

　Portraits (肖像画)

• Portraits of Modern Japanese Historical Figures ( English / Japanese )
  The NDL site provides two hundred statesmen, government officials, military officers, businessmen, and others who had an impact on building modern Japanese society. Can search by category and Japanese alphabetical order.
  
  
• Tokyo Daigaku Shiryo Hensanjo Database (東京大学史料編纂所）Needs to log in (free). Click on "肖像情報データベース."

　Family Crests (家紋)

• Kamon World (家紋World)
  Many images of Japanese family crests and brief descriptions.
  
  
• Okinawa no Kamon (沖縄の家紋)
  Family crests unique in Okinawa.

Business

• Nomura Research Institute 野村総合研究所
  
  
• Nikkei Business Browser　日経ビジネス
  
  
• Nikkei BP AsiaBizTech　日経BP
  
  
• Japan External Trade Organization　( ジェトロ Japanese / English )
  
  
• Small and Medium Enterprise Agency　日本の中小企業情報
  
  

Economics

• Japan Knowledge 
  Japanese language world encyclopedia, dictionaries, online books, maps & more.
  
  
• Japan Institute for Social and Economic Affairs　経済広報センター
  
  
• Japan Federation of Economic Organizations　日本経団連
  
  
• Senzenki Shinbun Keizai Kiji Bunko (戦前期新聞経済記事文庫) Kobe University site for newspaper articles clippings from the end of Meiji to 1970.
  
  
• Archive of IDE Publications (AIDE)
  The library of the Institute of Developing Economies (IDE), JETRO publication database, Archive of IDE Publications (AIDE). Allows you to search and read IDE research output on economic, political and social issues affecting developing countries and regions in full text.

Ethnic Studies

• Koreans in Japan: Database, Catalogs, Links　在日朝鮮人・韓国人関係文献リンク
  

Finances

• Bank of Japan　日本銀行
  
  

Foreign Relations

• Toa Dobun Shoin database search via Aichi Univerity 東亜同文書院大旅行誌記事検索（愛知大学）
• Toa Dobun Shoin Toa Dobunkai Zasshi Kiji database Searchable database 東亜同文書院・東亜同文会雑誌記事データベース
  
  
• Cross Currents
  Explores the rich, ongoing relationship between the U.S. and Japan over the past fifty years.
  
  
• Japan Institute of International Affairs 日本国際問題研究所
  A downloadable pdf file of the latest issue is available online until the next issue is published. Those who need to access to back issues of "Kokusai Mondai" have to become a member of the organization. Please see the member application at
  <https://www2.jiia.or.jp/member/member1.html>
  
  

Geography

• Japan Knowledge 
  Japanese language world encyclopedia, dictionaries, online books, maps & more.
  
  
• Japanese Historical Geographical Dictionary (Nihon Rekishi Chiri Taikei 日本歴史地理大系) via Japan Knowledge
  Japanese language historical geography & maps. Search by keyword.
  
  
  
• Japan Atlas
  
  
• Japanese Historical Maps
  UC Berkeley's Japanese historical map images. The database can be searched by county, province, author, keywords, & data fields.
  
  
• Geographical Survey Institute of Japan　国土地理院
  
  
• National Archives of Japan Digital Archives 国立公文書館国図高精細画像
  Historical maps images and descriptions. Needs to install plugins to view maps.
  
  
• Korean Cities & Counties 韓国・北朝鮮の市郡名　
  List of Korean cities and counties with Japanese transcription.
  
  
• Journal of Geography 地学雑誌　
  
  
• Japanese Maps of the Tokugawa Era: via University of British Columbia Library
  
  
• Historical GIS map of the Kanto Plain : includes downloadable GIS data useful for understanding the transformation of the Kanto Plain (Tokyo, Yokohama, etc.) from a predominantly rural area to its present, densely-populated state. Japanese only.
  

History

• Image databases
  - Asahi Shinbun Rekishi Shashin Archive via Kikuzo II databse (UHM only)
  Free option through the end of March 2010
  - Mainich Photo Bank
  Free for search and view
  - Yomiuri Shashinkan
  Free for search and view
  
  
• The Histrographical Institute the University of Tokyo　東京大学史料編纂所
  
  
• National Archives of Japan　国立公文書館
  
  
• Kansai Digital Archives & Rekishi Kaido　関西デジタルアーカイブ＆歴史街道
  
  
• Japanese Old Photographs in Bakumatsu-Meiji Period Nagasaki University　古写真データベース
  
  
• Portraits of Modern Japanese Historical Figured (NDL) 近代日本人の肖像
  
  
• Database of materials on Japanese political figures after Meiji (NDL) 近現代日本政治関係人物文献目録
  
  
• 国立公文書館　アジア歴史資料センター　Japan Center for Asian Historical Records (JACAR)
  
  
• 占領期雑誌記事情報データベース NDL site
  占領期新聞・雑誌情報データベース The Institute of 20th Century site
  Prange Collection University of Maryland. Title level search via the National Diet Library.　The most comprehensive collection in the world of print publications issued in Japan during the immediate post-World War II years, 1945-1949.
  
  
• Je Kaleidoscope: Views of Japan from Myriad Angles　カレイドスコープ：日本理解のための情報発信ページ ( Japanese / English )
  Multilingual translations of history textbooks used in Japan's middle schools.
  
  
• Japanese War Crimes: Resources for Researchers: The Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Records Interagency Working Group (IWG).　
  
  
• BUNZO　歴史公文書探究サイト『ぶん蔵』
  Site for exploration of History archives

Law

• The Constitution of Japan　日本国憲法
  
  
• The Birth of the Constitution of Japan (NDL Gallery)日本国憲法の誕生(国会図書館ギャラリー)
  
  
• Japan's Personal Information Protection Act 日本の個人情報保護法
  English translation (PDF file) by the Proskauer Rose (law firm)
  
  
• Nihon no Kokusaiho Hanrei　日本の国際法判例
  
  
• The Supreme Court of Japan　最高裁判所
  
  
• Translations of Japanese Laws and Regulations　法令翻訳データ集 (内閣官房)
  Translations of Laws and Regulations　法令翻訳データ (内閣官房)
  
  
• Nihon Horei Sakuin　国立国会図書館　日本法令索引
  A searchable index for Japanese laws and regulations after Meiji 19 (1886).
  
  
• Hanrei Times Co.,Ltd.　判例タイムズ社
  The table of contents of the back issues for the "Hanrei Times," the magazine on judicial precedents.
  
  
• Joho Kokai Deta Teikyo Shisutemu 情報公開データ提供システム (Information Clearinghouse Japan)
  Database on Public Information acts and related issues.
  
  
• Constitutional Revision Research Project ハーバード大学ライスシャワー日本研究所
  

Language

• Dialects in Japan (ふるさと日本のことば)
  NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corp.) site. Provides dialects by clicking a prefecture on the map. Some contain audio samples (need to download free "Real Player" software available at site).

• Ryuykuan Language Phonetic Database (琉球語音声データベース)
  
  
• Sanseido's Linguistic Encyclopedia (三省堂言語学大辞典データベース)
  
  
• Kotonoha (「現代日本語書き言葉均衡コーパス」　検索デモンストレーション)
  

Literature

• Toyo Bunko (東洋文庫) via Japan Knowledge 
  Online book of Heibonsha's Toyo Bunko. Can search within the Toyo Bunko database.
  
  
• Heian Jinbutsu shi Tanzakucho (平安人物志短冊帖 English / Japanese)
  Nichibunken's database is a collection of rectangular cards (tanzaku) on which poems were written by persons whose names appear in the Heian jinbutsu shi.

• Kindai Bungaku Kenkyu Sosho (近代文学研究叢書）巻・作家別内容目次
  
  
• Kokubungaku Kenkyu Shiryokan　国文学資料館データベース
  
  
• Japanese Classical Literature Text Index
• Kanatehon Chushingura
• Genji Monogatari
• The Taisho Tripitaka (the Taisho Shinshu Daizokyo)
• Online Japanese Text, University of Virginia Library and University of Pittsburgh
  
  
• Nihon Kindai Bungakukan (Museum of Modern Japanese Literature日本近代文学館)
  
  
• Japanese Literature in Translation Search 日本文学翻訳書誌検索
  Covers Japanese literary works translated into other languages mainly from the end of World War II to the 1990s. Scroll down and click "Japanese Literature in Translation Database Search."Complied by the Japan Pen Club.
  
  
• The Index Translationum: Bibliographic Search (UNESCO)
  Contains cumulative bibliographical information on books translated and published in about one hundred of the UNESCO Member States since 1979.
  
  
• Kanji Press
  
  
• The Knowledge Bank at the Ohio State University: Early Modern Japan: an interdisciplinary journal
  

Media

• The Institute of the 20th Century Media (20世紀メディア研究所)
  
  
• Digital archives of Akira Kurosawa's manuscripts, photos, movie scripts, etc.Provided by Ryukoku University
  

Politics

• Japan Documentation Center, Library of Congress
  
  
• Japan Information Access Project

• Japan Politics Central
  
  
• Japan Policy Research Institute
  
  
• Ohara Institute for Social Research, Hosei University
• Ohara Digital Library
  
  
• The World and Japan Database Project
  
  
• Institute of Social Science, University of Tokyo
  

Religions

• Encyclopedia of Shinto, Kokugakuin University
  

Science and Technology

• Eco Search
  
  
• Japan Information Access Project 
  
  
• Failure Knowkedge Database: The Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
  
• Shima: The International Journal of Research into Island Culture
  The first issue is now online