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Subject Guide for English Online Resources about Japan
Encyclopedias
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Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan
The 2002 online encyclopedia is based on, and updates the 1993 print edition of:
Japan: An illustrated encyclopedia, covering subjects on politics, government, economics, art, culture and history of Japan.
The encyclopedia is fully searchable by keyword and subject.
Also includes browse lists for articles and portraits.
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Britannica Online
A general encyclopedia that contains basic information on East Asia including Japan.
Indexes and Abstracts
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Bibliography of Asian Studies Online
Covers Western-language monographs, articles and book chapters on all parts of Asia
published since 1971. Encompasses books, journal articles and chapters, conference
proceedings, anthologies, festschriften, etc. of the annual printed volumes from 1971
to 1991. From 1992 to present it includes citations to all articles from the 100 most-used
journals in Asian studies and a substantial number of additional citations from earlier
years in South Asian studies. Includes Japan-related journals : Japan Echo (Tokyo),
Japan Forum (Basingstoke, Hampshire, England; Philadelphia, PA), Japan Review: Bulletin of
the International Research Center for Japanese Studies = Nichibunken (Kyoto), Japanese
Journal of Religious Studies (Nagoya); Japanese Language and Literature (Boulder, CO),
Journal of Japanese Studies (Seattle) and Monumenta Nipponica (Tokyo).
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Article First (1990- )
Provides citations from the table of contents pages of over 11,000 journals in the areas
of science, technology, medicine, social science, business, the humanities, and popular
culture; including Japan Forum, Japanese Journal of Political Science, Japanese Studies,
Journal of Japanese Studies, Social Science Japan Journal and many other journals focused
on Asia.
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ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT)
Previously known as: Dissertation Abstracts. Covers
all dissertations from
accredited institutions from 1861 to the present. Abstracts for PhD dissertations
began about 1980 and for Master's theses from 1988 The database is searchable by
author, title, subject, keyword, institution, or adviser. First 24 pages of the
dissertation are free for viewing; fulltext dissertations are available at
approximately $28.00 for a PDF copy.
Fulltext Article Databases
- EBSCO Academic Search Premier
Provides fulltext content to journals including: Asian Affairs, Asian Philosophy, and
Asian Studies Review, Japan Forum,
Japanese psychological research,
and Japanese Studies.
- ProQuest
ProQuest Research Library provides fulltext contents to 2,500 journals from 1972 to current,
including: Asian Theatre Journal, Asian Philosophy, and Journal of Asian Studies, etc. ProQuest
Newspapers includes: Yomiuri Shimbun , Mainichi Daily News (English edition) and Asahi Shimbun evening news.
- JSTOR
A keyword searchable database that provides electronic access to the entire run of core journals
in the humanities, social sciences and sciences with an embargo period of five years.
Particularly valuable for its access to older journals that may not be indexed online.
Includes the Journal of Asian Studies (1956-1991)
and its predecessor: the Far Eastern Quarterly
(1941-1956); Monumenta Nipponica and Journal of Japanese Studies.
- Project Muse
A multidisciplinary database, coverage often begins from where JSTOR stops. Includes:
Journal of Japanese Studies (2004- ) and Monumenta Nipponica.
- LexisNexis Academic
Contains company business news and information for companies such as Toyota,
Honda, Matsushita, Toshiba, and Fujitsu; also include articles in Japanese
newspapers such as: Asahi, Yomiuri, Mainichi, and Japan Times.
- Factiva
Provides access to over 8,000 sources including 1,000+ global and local newspapers, 3,000+ Journals and magazines,
30,000+ company reports. Factiva.com delivers content in 22 languages. Includes Japanese newspapers:
Yomiuri shimbun and others.
- EBSCO Communication and Mass Media Complete
A research and reference resource of the communication discipline. The database incorporates
the content of CommSearch (formerly produced by the National Communication Association) and
Mass Media Articles Index (formerly produced by Penn State) along with numerous other journals
in communication, mass media, and other closely-related fields of study.
- EconLit
EconLit contains abstracts, indexing, and links to full-text articles in economics journals published worldwide.
It abstracts books and indexes articles in books, working papers series, and dissertations. It also provides full-text
book reviews from the Journal of Economic Literature (JEL), and covers journals on Asian Pacific economy including
Japan labor review, Japan research quarterly, Japanese economic review, Japanese economic studies and Japanese economy.
- PsycINFO
An abstract (not full-text) database of psychological literature from the 1800s to the present. PsycINFO covers more
than 20 Japanese journals including: Japanese Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Japanese Journal of
Counseling Science, Japanese Journal of Developmental Psychology, Japanese Journal of Educational Psychology,
Japanese Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Japanese Journal of Family Psychology, Japanese Journal
of Psychology, Japanese Journal of Special Education, and Japanese Psychological Research.
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Online Journals
- Nipponia: Discovering Japan (1997- )
A quarterly journal on modern Japan and its popular culture.
- Electronic Journal of Contemporary Japanese Studies (2001- )
A free scholarly electronic journal that publishes academic research articles on contemporary
Japanese society, economy, politics, and culture. All articles are double-blind peer reviewed.
Table of contents by year of publication and by subject.
- Japan Focus (2002- )
A free e-journal and archive on Japan and the Asia-Pacific, covering politics, economics, society,
history and culture, international relations, war and peace, and historical memory. Articles
are arranged by geographic regions and broad topics. It covers translations from Japanese and
other languages of articles published in Japanese press such as: Shukan Kinyobi, Sekai, Gunshuku,
and Heiwa Kenkyu, and mainstream sources such as Asahi Shimbun, Aera, Mainichi Shimbun and the
Japan Times.
- Japan Labor Bulletin (1992 - 2003)
"A monthly journal published by the Japan Institute of Labour, which introduces up-to-date labor issues
in Japan with a special topic featured in each issue".
- Japan Labor Review (winter 2004- )
Continues Japan Labor Bulletin, "this is a quarterly journal of research in the field of labor studies",
it is published by the Japan Institute of Labour Policy and Training (JIPT) which is the successor
of Japan Institute of Labor (JIL). Articles are selected, edited, and published by the Institute
for the purpose of providing information on Japanese labor issues to the overseas readers.
- Japanese Journal of Religious Studies (V.1, 1974- )
A semi-annual journal dedicated to the academic study of Japanese religions. First published
in 1960 as Contemporary Religions in Japan, changed to present name in 1974, and taken over by the
Nanzan Institute in 1981.
- Social Science Japan (1994- )
"The English-language newsletter of the Institute of Social Science, University of Tokyo; Provides
concise information on key people, important issues, and recent developments in social science research
on Japan". Published twice a year, and is free of charge.
- Japan Review (V.1, 1996- )
An annual publication of articles, research notes and other works on Japanese culture
and civilization written by scholars and visiting scholars at the International Research
Center for Japanese Studies in Kyoto, Japan. A referred English-language journal. Author
and keyword search available.
News
Web Portals
Basic Facts about Japan
- Japan - a Country Study (Library of Congress) 1994. Rev. 6th edition.
Prepared by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress under the Country
Studies/Area Handbook Program, the study is written by a multidisciplinary team of social
scientists. The work presents a detailed profile of Japan including its history from ancient
times to the present, geography, languages, religions, economy, social systems, industries,
agriculture, and more. This revised edition analyzes Japanese society with respect to its
ancient traditions and postwar transformation; with in depth coverage of its emergence in
the second half of the twentieth century as a major actor on the international political
and economic scene.
- CIA World Fact Book
This is the online version of The World Factbook, published annually by the Central Intelligence
Agency. Selected data and maps are updated periodically. The site includes information on
Japan's geography, people, government, economy, communications, transportation, military,
and international disputes.
- Japan: International Comparison
This annual publication is a collection of comparative data on Japan and other nations.
It provides valuable information on economics, industries, trade, finance, labor, the
environment and education.
Statistics
- Statistical Materials for Learning about Japan
A guide on the statistical information about Japan, published by the National Diet Library.
It introduces major statistical materials on Japan, written in English or in both Japanese
and English, in the form of printed publications and Internet resources.
- Japanese Data Library
Provides access to the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research's collection of Japanese
survey data, including 1,500 reports and 200 datasets, ranging from 1992 to 1998.
Directories
Organizations / Associations
Maps
- Japanese Historical Maps
Contains about 2,300 early maps of Japan and the World. The collection was acquired
by the University of California from the Mitsui family in 1949, and is housed on the Berkeley
campus in the East Asian Library. Represented in this online collection are over 600
images of maps and books from the Collection.
- Old Maps of Nagasaki 長崎古地図データベース (Nichibunken)
This database from Nichibunken includes 221 color photographic images held by the Nagasaki
Municipal Museum. Free registration is required to access this database for research.
Provides browsing and keyword searching capabilities in both English and Japanese.
Also includes lists and bibliographies.
- Maps of Japan from the Japanese National Tourist Organization
Includes maps that cover all of Japan, Regional maps and Transportation maps (International Air and Domestic Air Routes,
Rail Lines, Ferry Boat and Long Distance Bus Routes). Keyword search available.
Digital Images
- Kyoto National Museum
The museum collects and houses early works of art and archeological artifacts of East Asia
focusing primarily on Japan. This site includes detailed graphic and text introductions
to some 100 masterworks owned by the museum.
- Tokyo National Museum
The museum collection is mainly consisted of art objects originated in the East Asia.
You can search them by type of medium, region and time period.
- New York Public Library
NYPL Digital Gallery provides access to over 300,000 images digitized from primary sources
and printed rarities in the collections of The New York Public Library, including
illuminated manuscripts, historical maps, vintage posters, rare prints and photographs,
illustrated books, printed ephemera. Contais many Japanese maps and photographs that are arranged by subjects.
- Japanese Old Photos in Bakumatsu-Meji Period
An English-Japanese site for a collection of hand-tinted photographs of Japan, 1860–1920, showing
foreign settlements, urban and rural scenery, culture, people, in Tokyo, Nagasaki, Osaka, Kobe,
and elsewhere. The collection holds over 5000 images.
- Kyodo News Photos
The English based Kyodo News Agency's photos contain about 30,000 photos back to 1997.
All of those images include comprehensive English captions. Searching and viewing are free.
For download or use of photos in the publication, review the price list.
Language Dictionaries
- EJ-JE Dictionary
A translation software.
- Rikai
The site allows you to paste a URL or a block of text into the translator, and provides the
Japanese reading and English translation for words. Rikai translates from Japanese to English
and English to Japanese. It is very useful as a Japanese language aid when reading the Japanese
web pages since it can translate words from the Japanese websites into English. However,
it does have problems with search engines, and is not recommended to use when searching
journal databases.
- AltaVista - Babel Fish Translation
Type in a block of text or a URL and press translate to obtain English translation of the text.
Resources for Educators
- Asia for Educators
"An initiative of East Asia Curriculum Project and the Project on Asia in the Core Curriculum.
Include sample teaching workbook and lesson plans."
- National Clearinghouse for U.S.-Japan Studies
Originally housed in Indiana University from 1995-2006, now moved to the Freeman Spogli Institute
for International Studies at Stanford University in 2007. The Clearinghouse Internet Guides
provide annotated lists of recommended Web sites about Japan arranged by topic.
- Ask Asia (K-12 resources for Asia)
- H-Japan
Email discussion list for educators of Japanese history, culture, religion, and society.
- ACLAnet syllabi and documents
American Comparative Literature Association' network (ACLAnet) is a searchable site for
information related to international, interdisciplinary, and cross-cultural literary studies
(theory and practice). Its ACLAnet syllabi and documents section collects syllabi
(from the late 1980s to Spring 2000) that have been taught in actual classes. The site addresses
a variety of pedagogical and scholarly needs. Syllabi are listed as viewable pages, or as
downloadable pdf files. "Syllabus related materials" are also available; references follow
each syllabus or document.
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Anthropology
Arts
- Asian Historical
Architecture
Contains thousands of photographs of historical Asian architecture, browsable
by country and city. Entries include images, brief descriptions, and bibliographies.
- Virtual
Museum of Japanese Art
Includes various articles related to Japanese fine arts (painting, sculpture, Ukiyo-e,
architecture & gardens), crafts, performing arts, pastime arts, martial arts and other
cultures in Japan.
- TeaHyakka Magazine
Created in 2004, this is a quarterly updated bilingual website that provides an overview of the history, culture
and art of Japanese tea ceremony. Also includes a list of tea classes and instructors
outside of Japan. Websites pertaining to Japanese tea ceremony, schools, museum,
and online-stores of tea ceremony utensils are also included.
- The Floating
World of Ukiyo-E
"Ukiyo-e' (translated as pictures of the floating, or sorrowful world) is a
showcase of the Library of Congress' spectacular holdings of Japanese prints,
books, and drawings from the 17th to the 19th centuries. These works are complemented
by related works from the Library's collections created by Japanese and Westerns artists
into the 20th century."
- Viewing
Japanese Prints
A website devoted to the appreciation of three centuries of Japanese printmaking
with illustrated essays and discussions on selected artists and their designs
and techniques of woodblock prints, as well as explorations into various themes
in Japanese printmaking." Sections included are: Early Ukiyo-E, Golden Age,
Late Ukiyo-E, Shin Hanga, Sosaku Hanga, and Contemporary.
- Ikebana International
Provides a basic introduction to terminology, equipment, materials and history
of Japanese flower arrangement. Also discusses various schools of Japanese
flower arrangement, and collectes an event calendar for Ikebana International
conferences and exhibitions, and other activities.
- Japanese Garden
The site includes images of historic gardens of Kyoto, Japan and provides tours around the gardens.
The overview, glossary and bibliography on Japanese garden are also provided.
- Noh and Kyogen
The site presents an introduction to Japan's traditional performing arts, Noh
and Kyogen. Also discusses the history and elements of playing Noh
(roles of plays, stage and masks).
- Japanese
Traditional Music by Nippon Columbia Co.
Provides a basic introduction to the history of Japanese traditional music.
Includes photo images of Japanese musical instruments, and sound files of
20 pieces of music tracks.
Economics
- Mizuho Securities, Japan
Provides links to English-language resources on Japanese finance and politics. Extensive
links to Japanese government ministries and agencies, Bank of Japan, Tokyo Stock Exchange,
public financial corporations, electronic news sources about Japan, economic and financial
data, laws, and international financial markets.
- Bank of Japan
This is the website of Central Bank of Japan. It includes information on the bank's
structure, roles, policies and services including many reports and statistics.
- JETRO -
Japan External Trade Organization
This site offers information that promotes international trade and investment.
It provides reports on Japan market, investing environment and business opportunities
as well as trade statistics and economic indicators.
- Ministry of Finance
- Annual Report on the Japanese Economy and Public Finance
- White Paper on International Economy and Trade
The Web site of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
History
- Bibliography of Japanese History up to 1912
Prepared and maintained by Dr Peter Kornicki, Professor of Japanese History and Bibliography
at University of Cambridge.
- A Joint Study of the Sino Japanese War 1931-1945
- WEB Guide to Japan: History [At Japan Guide]
- World War II: Pacific Theater
This page links to original government source documents pertaining to World War II and in particular
to the Pacific War. Included are links to a report produced in 1946 by the Manhattan Engineer
District about the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings, government documents about Pearl Harbor,
and an FBI report about Tokyo Rose.
- World War II Resources
The site collects primary source materials on the Web and original documents
regarding all aspects of the war. Includes The Japanese Monographs, a series of 187
studies on Japan's role in WWII, written by Japanese participants in the events at
the request of the US Government.
- Congressional Declaration of War on Japan (December 8, 1941)
- Roosevelt's 'Day which will live in Infamy' Speech
- Use of the Atomic Bomb
The "Use of the Atomic Bomb" section can be found at the Internet East Asian History Sourcebook,
under "Japan as a World Power". There are many links to documents pertaining to the use of atomic bomb,
including material on the decision to drop the bomb, testimony from survivors, A-Bomb museum in Hiroshima,
Enola Gay controversy, and photographs.
- Japanese Surrender Documents, September 12, 1945 (English Translation)
- International Military Tribunal for the Far East,
Yale University Law School
A searchable full-text database.
- Center of Research and Documentation on Japan's War
Responsibility 日本の戦争責任資料センター
Provides information on court cases, documentation about Japan's aggression in
WWII, comfort women, book reviews and links. In English and Japanese.
Human Rights/Gender Issues/Women's Studies
Journalism and Mass Communication
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PressNet: the Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association
The site represents some 150 daily newspapers, news agencies and broadcasters, It includes the association's
bulletin and facts and figures on Japanese newspapers.
- NHK Online
This is the homepage of the Japan Broadcasting Cooperation run by Japanese government.
It includes many features designed for audience outside of Japan. It also contains summaries
of articles published in the NHK Monthly Report on Broadcast Research.
Literature
- The Japanese Literature Home Page
by Mark Jewel, School of Political Science and
Economics, Waseda University
Provides information on Japanese literature with an emphasis on the modern period, dating
from the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Includes an overview of Japanese literary history,
a concise timeline, brief biographies of Japanese writers, links to websites, and reviews.
When you click the Authors / Works button, you will find the table of author name. Click a
famous writer's names such as "Soseki Natsume" or "Yukio Mishima" you will find the translated works,
literary reviews and other links there. The site archives the chronicles of major literary events
and news as well as the reviews of Akutagawa prize from 1998 to present.
- 2001 Waka for Japan, by the School of East Asian Studies,
University of Sheffield.
A project of the Japan 2001 Festival that digitalizes a collection of 2001 Japanese poems
which representing many types of classical Japanese poetry, covering approximately
the first thousand years of poetry in Japan. The poems appear in the original Japanese,
transcribed into the Roman alphabet (Romanized) and translated into English. They are
accompanied by commentary and background material to reflect the society the old Japanese
poets lived in, their beliefs.
- No(h) Plays [in Japanese Text Initiative collection]
Sponsored by the University of Virginia Electronic Text Center and the University of Pittsburgh
East Asian Library, the Japanese Text Initiative aims to make the texts of classical Japanese
literature available on the World Wide Web. The project has completed digitizing thirteen Noh
dramas from the medieval period in Japanese text and various English translations, along with
an introduction of Noh and some editorial notes.
- Japanese
Literature in Translation Search
The database covers Japanese literary works translated into other languages, mostly after World War II.
The data is searchable by author, title, translator, publisher and other terms in either Japanese
or roman letters.
Manga/Animation/Films
- Manga from Wikipedia
Provides a thorough introduction to manga; includes a list of manga titles
and manga authors, all linked to pages that provide further information.
- Anime Check-list: Check-list of Japanese Animation since 1917
by Giuseppe Albanese
An exhaustive database of all Japanese animated characters produced in Japan since 1917.
Searchable by Japanese title, roma-ji title, English title (literal and release title),
release date, year, type (OAV, TV series, etc.), production studio, director, etc. The
objective is to provide a complete census of all existing anime with charts analyzing
trends in the anime industry. The site is the winner of the Japan Reference Gold
Award as the most complete anime list.
- Kinema Club
Features "The Kinema Club Database," including 1,500 entries of books and articles about
Japanese cinema in all major languages. Also includes online articles and reviews,
research and teaching tools, and tips for searching materials regarding Japanese films
- Midnight Eye: The Latest and Best in Japanese Cinema by Tom Mes et al.
Provides weekly movie reviews, interviews with Japanese directors, feature articles, and calendar of events
- Facets
Facets Video is one of the nation's largest distributors of foreign, classic, cult,
art, and hard-to-find videos. They search the world for artistically important film on video -
bypassing many mainstream releases to focus on the rare and the unusual. As a result, Facets' 60,000
title inventory is an astounding video collection unlike any in the world, famous for its breadth and diversity.
It is good site in locating films you need to purchase.
- NHK International
The site offers English language TV program descriptions produced by NHK. The portions of the programs are
now available for purchase.
Politics and Government
- 1889 Constitution of the Empire of Japan (English)
This is a Hanover Historical Texts Project. The text is translated by Miyoji Ito
"from Hirobumi Ito, Commentaries on the constitution of the empire of Japan, (Tokyo:
Igirisu-horitsu gakko, 22nd year of Meiji, 1889)".
- Constitution of Japan (English)
(Nihonkoku Kenpou)
Promulgated on November 3, 1946. Came into effect on May 3, 1947.
- Prime Minister of Japan and his cabinet
(English)
As the official website of the Kantei (Official Residence) of the Prime Minister of Japan, the
website provides summaries of official speeches and statements made by the present Prime Minister
as well as those of predecessors since 1996. It also provides links to related sites including
home pages of government agencies, biographical information of the members in the Cabinet and
statistics sites. Japanese version of the site provides much more information than the English
version, including digest edition of official gazette, white papers, public opinion survey, etc.
- The National Diet and Political Parties of Japan
Religion
- Photo dictionary of Japan's Buddhist Gods & Goddesses (1995-)
The site presents about 1000 digitized photographs of Japanese Buddhist sculpture by Mark Schumacher.
Images are arranged in alphabetical order. The site provides extensive links to glossary of terms used for
each image. Also includes basic bibliography and timelines.
- Contemporary Papers on Japanese Religion
This series is a collection of recent studies of Japanese religion translated into English
by Norman Havens, published by the Institute for Japanese Culture & Classics, Kokugakuin University.
- Encyclopedia of Shinto
Institute for Japanese Culture & Classics, Kokugakuin University, 2005
"The online Encyclopedia of Shinto is the English translation of the Shinto jiten
edited by the Institute for Japanese Culture and Classics and published by Kobundo in
1994." Links to video images, illustrations, photographs and sound files have been added anew.
- Japanese Journal of
Religious Studies
See section III. 1: Online Journals for annotation.
White papers produced by various government agencies
- Annual Report on the Aging Society, 2002-
- Annual Report on Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas in Japan, 1998-
On the web site of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF). The site also
contains many other information including monthly statistics of the Ministry.
- Annual Reports on Health and Welfare
- Defense of Japan, 1996-
Available on the web site of the Ministry of Defense via the "publication" link. The Ministry
changed name from Japan Defense Agency since Japnuary 9, 2007.
- Diplomatic Bluebook, 1971-
Prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
- Japan's ODA White Paper, 2001-
Prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
- Japanese Government Policies in Education
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, 2001-
Prepared by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
- Quality of the Environment in Japan
- White paper on science and technology, 2003-
Prepared by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
- White Paper Information and Communications in Japan, 2004
Prepared by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
- White Paper on Small and Medium Enterprises in Japan, 1997-
Reports of the Ministry of the Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
- White Paper on the National Lifestyle
- White Paper on the Labor Economy, 2003
Prepared by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
- Japan Policy Research Institute
This non-profit organization promotes public education about Japan, its growing significance
in world affairs, and trans-Pacific international relations. Publishes a monthly series of
working papers, occasional papers, and the JPRI Critique, which is devoted to reprints of
important articles and essays. Publications tab provides access to fulltext documents
of working papers, occasional papers, and critiques. Author index and country and
subject index.
Prepared by Julie Su, San Diego State University Library and Sanae Isozumi, University of California San Diego Libraries
This page http://infodome.sdsu.edu/research/guides/japan.shtml is maintained by Julie Su.
Please use our Feedback Form
for your questions, comments, and suggestions.
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