The Journal of Information Science and Technology Association
(Johono Kagaku to Gijutsu)
Abstract

Vol. 62(2012), No.10

Current states of the Archives in Japan

Overview: How to comprehend archives: A review from Japan

Takashi KOGA
Center for Liberal Arts Education and Research, Tenri University
1050 Somanouchi, Tenri, Nara 632-8510 JAPAN

Abstract: This article is a brief review on archives and archival issues in Japan. The main points of this article are: (1) Besides the legal and policy issues on public archives and records management, we face the issues on many kinds of garchiveh, some of which lack documentarism (process-bound information) and systematic information organization as the core of garchivesh. (2) It is important to aware the distinction between institutional archives and collecting archives, as well as the framework which comprehends both type of archives. (3) It is possible to consider that archives contribute to evidence-based empirical thinking.

KeywordsF  archives / archive / archival institutions / documentarism / institutional archives / collecting archives / evidence

My research and the National Archives in Washington, D.C.:
Military Record relating to Japan

Munehiro MIWA
Kyushu University
Hakozaki 6-10-1, Higashi-ku Fukuoka-shi 812-8581 JAPAN

Abstract: The war Divisions of the Department of Justice analyzed the Japanese merchant materials in order to select the target of air raid. Department of Justice made up about 200 reports on Japan. I was surprised to read these reports depending on the data which I could not find out in the first research at the National Archives at Suitland.
The national archives put government records in public access openly, including military records. Japanese government records after 1945 are not well opened. I would like to make efforts of learning a well-developed archival system and introducing the archival management. I personally think that Japan needs to study how to make military records to be open to the researchers and the public.

KeywordsF  The National archives / The Japanese merchant materials / military records / RG131 / RG243 / RG38 / Department of Justice / civilian control / Air Raid

Business archives as assets:
the need to work out value-added use and some further issues

Yuko MATSUZAKI
Resource Center for History of Entrepreneurship, Shibusawa Eiichi Memorial Foundation
2-16-1 Nishigahara, Kita-ku, Tokyo 114-0024 JAPAN

Abstract: Institutional (in-house) business archives are assets that hold value for a number of reasons. Currently, efforts are being made to enhance the value of in-house archives and contribute toward improving the quality of the management of parent organizations. Further, there are some issues that are yet to be solved: the lack of recordkeeping that combines archive and records management; a perception gap with respect to the public accessing in-house business archives; differences in ideas about the appraisal policy that are linked to archival principles; how archivists should be trained and educated in order for them to contribute toward adding value to archive management; and the difficulties in managing archives and records of overseas subsidiaries.

KeywordsF  business archives / institutional archives / added value / access / recordkeeping / records management / archivist / appraisal / shashi

Public records and archives act and its implications on the National Archives of Japan

Masaya TAKAYAMA
National Archives of Japan,
3-2, Kitanomaru Park, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0091 JAPAN

Abstract: On April 1, 2011, the Public Records and Archives Management Act was put into effect. Behind this act was the lax management of public records such as pension records and logbooks of defense ships. As a result these political scandals attracted much public attention, the administrative authorities, which had long been ignoring the opinions to improve public records management, were urged to take proper measures. However, longstanding administrative cultures, whichi are symbolized in public records management, cannot be changed by a single act. In this article, management of public records and administrative information before and after the enactment of Public Records and Archives Management Act, together with the restoration project of the National Archives of Japan for disaster-damaged documents, will be overviewed.

KeywordsF  The National Archives of Japan / public records and archives management act / public records management / rescue for disaster-damaged documents / accountability

Current trend of Modern Japanese Political History Materials Room

Sosuke FUJITA
Modern Japanese Political Documents Division of the National Diet Library
1-10-1, Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8924, JAPAN

Abstract: Modern Japanese Political History Materials Room have three collections: gModern Japanese political history materialsh, gMaterials on the Allied Occupation of Japanh and gMaterials on Japanese emigrationh. Although the momentum for collecting each collection differs, they have been collected so far and are supplied in Modern Japanese Political History Materials Room. There is no system to search items at a time, but the number of catalogs available on the web for each fond has been increasing. Agendas to be pushed are making all catalogs available on the web and digitization of materials.

KeywordsF  Archives / collecting / cataloging / catalog / digitization

Shiseidofs corporate library and its strategic corporate archives activities

Yasuo NISHIKAWA
ARMA International Tokyo Chapter
2-2 kanda tsukasa-cyo, chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN

Abstract: Shiseidofs corporate library is an one example of the new direction of corporate museum. Unlike traditional corporate museum that only displaying corporate records or objects, they are showing their corporate culture to the outside community, and the same time, they are providing various support functions to their own organizationfs corporate activities. By using enormous corporate records and objects they collected, they are providing product development department and/or marketing department with strategic intelligence, suggesting future directions. They are a key component to establish and succession of Shiseidofs corporate culture that value genuine quality. This article introduces Shiseidofs corporate museum and itfs strategic corporate archives activity.

KeywordsF  shiseido / corporate culture / mecenat / corporate museum / corporate asset / added value

Product review: New enhancements on reaction and substances database Reaxys

Ayako SAGAWA, Genryou UMITSUKI
Elsevier Japan, K.K.
Higashi Azabu 1-chome Bldg., 4F 1-9-15 Higashi Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0044 JAPAN

Abstract: Reaxys is one of the world largest database for chemical reactions and substances properties. It is highly valued because of its user-friendly interface and high quality contents and is widely used in the various disciplines of drug development, agrochemical development, fine chemical, functional material. Recently academic institutions have introduced Reaxys as well.
In this article, some of recent enhancements of Reaxys - improvement of search function, additional functions of structure editors and new features of synthesis planner - are discussed. Reaxys Xcelerate which is premium version of Reaxys is introduced also.

KeywordsF  Reaxys / PubChem / structure similarity search / reaction similarity search / synthesis planner / retrosynthesis / Reaxys Xcelerate / dotmatics elemental

Interview: Dr. Andrew Gordon, who built the Digital Archive of Japanfs 2011 Disasters

Soichi TOKIZANE
Aichi University
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