Japan Center for Asian Historical Records JACAR (アジア歴史資料センター)

Overview

The Japan Center for Asian Historical Records (JACAR; Japanese: アジア歴史資料センター, Ajia Rekishi Shiryo Sentā) is a digital archive providing free public access to Japanese government historical records relating to modern and contemporary Japan-Asia relations. Established in November 2001 under the National Archives of Japan, JACAR serves as a gateway to official documents held at three principal Japanese government repositories.

History and Founding

JACAR was established pursuant to a Cabinet resolution in 1999, following longstanding demands from Japan's Asian neighbors for greater transparency regarding wartime historical records. It opened in November 2001 and celebrated its twentieth anniversary in 2021. The center operates under the National Archives of Japan, which provides its institutional home at Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo.

Collections and Holdings

JACAR provides access to digitized documents from three principal institutions: the National Archives of Japan (Cabinet and government records from the Meiji era through World War II), the Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and the National Institute for Defense Studies (former Japanese Army and Navy records, including approximately 57,000 Army files and 36,000 Navy files returned by the United States in 1958). Cross-search functionality enables users to simultaneously search holdings across all three institutions. Beginning in fiscal 2017, JACAR has also been making available post-World War II records through 1972, covering topics such as the Peace Treaty, the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, Japan's accession to the United Nations, and normalization of Japan-China relations.

Journalism and Media Relevance

JACAR is a key resource for journalists, historians, and researchers studying Japan's wartime activities, foreign relations, and military history. The database provides primary source access to official government documentation and is particularly valuable for investigations into events that have been subjects of historical controversy in East Asia.

Access

JACAR is freely accessible online in Japanese and English at jacar.go.jp and jacar.archives.go.jp. The center has no on-site reading facilities; for access to original documents, users must contact the three holding institutions directly.