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Imperial Household Agency

Page history last edited by Takahiro Yamamoto 9 years, 8 months ago

Archives and Mausoleum Division, Imperial Household Agency (Kunaichō Shoryōbu)

 

Date of Trip: July 2014

 

Source: Takahiro Yamamoto, t.yamamoto1@lse.ac.uk

 

Location: 1-1, Chiyoda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8111 JAPAN

 

Getting started: This archive is located within the imperial palace and stores documents related to the imperial court of Japan as well as some private papers of government officials who were related to the royal family. It is the kind of archive that takes a bit of preparation to visit. Follow the steps below:

 

1. Find the documents to consult on the database (http://shoryobu.kunaicho.go.jp/infolib/meta_pub/G0000002kunaicho)

 

2. See if the documents you want are already open to public ('全部利用' i.e. entirely open or '一部利用' i.e. partly open) or needs prior approval ('要審査').

 

3. (SKIP TO 5 IF YOUR DOCUMENTS ARE OPEN) If they are 要審査, make an application by filling in the form here (http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/kunaicho/shinsei/pdf/kobunshokan-riyouseikyu.pdf) and submitting it either in person at the archive or by post (their email does not accept file attachments). In my case I went to the archive, checked the database on the PC in the reading room and filled in the application form there.

 

4. Wait for the approval. Mine took around a week, but depending on the nature and the volume of the documents this could take longer. They will let you know the results by phone.

 

5. Ring them at 03-3213-1111 and make an appointment, preferrably, they say, at least a week in advance. This is subject to the seats' availability.

 

6. Visit the archive (Mon-Fri 9:15am-5pm). Go to Kitahanebashi gate (北桔橋門), which is on the opposite side of the road from the National Archives of Japan. If the gate is closed ring the doorbell and talk to the guard. They will tell you to open the gate by yourself and walk in.

 

7. Fill in the visitor's form at the gate. You will need an official ID. A passport will do. The guard will give you a copy of your visitor's form and a badge.

 

8. Go through the gate and turn left. The pretty much the only building in sight is the Shoryōbu. The reading room is in the basement.

 

9. Get a key for a locker, put in your bags, take off your shoes and put on a pair of sandals they provide.

 

10. Your documents should be ready in the reading room. Fill in the form to check them out.

 

11. When you are done leave from the same gate. Leave the visitor's form and the badge to the guard.

 

How to get there: The metro station Takebashi on Tōzai line is the nearest. Exit from 1a, and walk up the hill. The imperial palace is hard to miss.  
 

Language: Japanese

 

Opening Hours: 

Mon to Fri 9:15am to 5pm.

 

General working conditions:

The reading room has six seats. They have power plugs. Two camera stands are provided (first come, first serve). The room is cold with A/C in the summer. You can take photographs at your seat or at a camera stand.  

 

Consultation:

There is one PC in the reading room that is connected to the Internet and allows you to use the database. They do not have wifi and I doubt you will have a good signal even if you bring a portable wifi because the reading room is in the basement with no windows. The archivists will allow you to check out up to ten items at a time. There does not seem to be a limit on the number of items you can order in a day (I consulted 24). If the documents are open you can place a new order on the spot. The documents were delivered quickly when I saw others did this.

 

Policy on technology: 

Laptops and cameras are allowed. Power plugs are provided. No wifi.

 

Particularities:

 

Etc: For lunch, you need to get out of the imperial palace, leaving the badge to the guard. Effectively the only option is to go back to Takebashi station where you find a variety of restaurants and cafes. Beware that the building attached to the station is a HQ for a major newspaper company, which means that during the lunch time the area could be busy. 

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