Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Archives (外交史料館)

Founded in 1971 The Diplomatic Archives preserves the records of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and manages publications and compilations of data.

The records range from 1868 (the date of the Meiji Restoration), to the end of World War II in 1945.  Since many documents were destroyed during World War II, the Diplomatic Archives has focused on collecting, restoring, and organizing documents, and requesting the return of materials confiscated by the Allied Powers during Japan's Occupation (1945-1952).

In addition the Diplomatic Archives has collected  Nihongaikōbunsho (Documents on Japanese Foreign Policy), a chronological anthology of important documents published the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1936.

In 1988, the Annex was built to include an exhibition room, library, storage facilities, and an administrative office. The Annex was donated by the late Prime Minister Yoshida Shigeru Memorial Foundation.

An Okinawan (Tsuboya)-made lion statue is exhibited at the side of the front entrance to commemorate the Kyushu-Okinawa summit of July, 2000.

The Exhibition Room contains historical documents dating from the late Tokugawa Period to the 1951 Peace Treaty in San Francisco, as well as personal articles and documents of the late Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida.  The Annex Exhibition Room is open to the public.

Note: The Guide uses the ALA/LC standard romanization, however, it also reflects different romanization system used by an individual institution.

Using the Library

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