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Below are some useful links related to the study of business history and research in business archives. All links are to English-language pages unless marked otherwise. We do our best to make sure our links are up to date, but since they are external we cannot guarantee they have not moved or disappeared. If you notice a dead link or have any suggestions for other links that should be included, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Last updated on January 25, 2024
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Business Archives - Japanese Association
Business Archives Association (Kigyo Shiryo Kyogikai) (Japanese only)
Established in 1981, Business Archives Association is the first and only organization in Japan dedicated to business archives. The main activities of the organization are mutual exchange among members, holding seminars, and training on the themes of preservation and utilization of business archives, compilation of corporate history, and corporate museums. Event information and announcements from members are useful.
Business Archives - International Associations, Groups and Web Services
ARMA International, Tokyo Chapter (Japanese only)
ARMA International Tokyo Chapter is the Japanese branch of ARMA International established in 1955, an international professional association for people involved in records and information management. It exchanges information on records and information management in organizations and conducts research on advanced case studies.
Section des archivistes d'entreprise et du secteur privé, Association des archivistes francais (AAF) (French only)
The Economic and Business Archives Section of the Association of Association of French Archivists (AAF) (French only) consists of over 300 members, professionals in business and labor archives. The Section is active in raising awareness on the function of the dual dimensions of business archives, information and heritage, and on its essential role in guaranteeing legal evidence.
Gruppi di lavoro e di coordinamento, Associazione Nazionale Archivistica Italiana (ANAI) (Italian only)
Associazione Nazionale Archivistica Italiana (ANAI) was formed in 1949 as the association of archivists of Italian state archives, and since the late 1980s it has become a national association of archivists of various types of archives. Click on GIAI (GIAI - Gruppo Italiano Archivisti d'Impresa: Business Archivist Group) on the left side of the page about the group. An introduction to the Business Archivists Group will appear.
Business Archives Council (BAC)
The Business Archives Council (BAC) was established in London in 1934 as a professional association for business archives. The BAC is dedicated to the preservation and use of business archives, the provision of information, and research and educational activities. In recent years, the Crisis Management Team of the BAC has been actively engaged in rescuing business archives that are in danger of being lost.
BAC Journal Archive
This is a database of Business Archives, the journal of the London-based Business Archives Council (BAC) established in 1934, digitized and made available online. The database contains all issues from No.22 published in 1965 to the last issue (No.109) published in 2014. The database has functions such as browsing by volume, advanced search, simple search, and timeline search.
Business Archives Council of Scotland (BACS)
Established in 1960, the Business Archives Council of Scotland (BACS) is dedicated to the preservation of Scottish business and industrial records. BACS offers consultancy services to businesses on archival, records, and information management and publishes a journal, Scottish Business and Industrial History.
BACS Microsite
Back issues of Scottish Business and Industrial History, the journal of the Scottish Business Archives Council (first published in 1977), are made available on the web using PastView, a platform for digital collections.
Centrum för Näringslivshistoria
Centrum för Näringslivshistoria (Centre for Business History in Stockholm) is a non-profit organization providing services such as arranging, cataloguing, providing access to, utilization of business archives, consultation, and research. Provides archives management and other services to members (companies and organisations) as a business of Centrum för Näringslivshistoria AB, a company organization wholly owned by the Centre for Business History in Stockholm. Members pay a fee for archives management and other services. The predecessor organisation Stockholms Företagsminnen ('Stockholm Corporate Memories'), was founded in 1974.
Centro per la cultura d'impresa (Italian only)
The Centro per la cultura d'impresa is a non-profit association under private law founded in October 1991 by the Milan Chamber of Commerce and recognized by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities with Ministerial Decree No. 258 of 05/11/1997. The center celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2021. In recent years, it has actively made its digitized corporate archives collection available on its website.
Culture e Impresa (Culture and Enterprise)
Bilingual e-magazine in Italian and English. It publishes articles on the preservation and utilization of business archives from a global perspective.
Discovery, The National Archives (TNA)
This is a web service from The National Archives (TNA). You can search not only for the information on public sector archives but also for business archives, and you can use the Find an archive search window to search for UK archives institutions that also include business archives.
European Association for Banking and Financial History (EABH)
The European Association for Banking and Finance History (eabh) is an association of banking and financial historians and archivists founded in 1990 by 22 banks and one institution in 11 European countries in anticipation of European integration. As of December 2023, it has 63 member institutions and actively disseminates information about banking and financial history research and archives through its website.
Section on Business Archives (SBA), International Council on Archives (ICA)
The International Council on Archives (ICA) is the professional organization for the archival community, dedicated to promoting the preservation, development, and use of the world's archival heritage. The ICA's Section for Business Archives (SBA) aims to support the preservation and use of the archives of business worldwide.
Managing Business Archives
The Managing Business Archives website is one of the outcomes of the National Strategy for Business Archives, which was launched in 2009 by The National Archives (TNA), the Business Archives Council (BAC), and other related organizations. The website provides useful reference information, including ideas and examples for managing business archives.
Museimpresa (Italian only)
Museimpresa is an association of corporate archives and museums, founded in Milan in 2001 on the initiative of the Italian Confederation of Industry and Assolombarda, an association of business owners in northern Italy. The association's website serves as an index guide with links to member institutions' exhibitions and archives facilities. Members also use Google Arts & Culture as a platform to publish archival material.
Business Archives Section (BAS), Society of American Archivists (SAA)
The Business Archives Section (BAS) of the Society of American Archivists (SAA) formed in 1936. Back issues of the BAS Newsletter and other publications are a valuable resource for learning about business archives in North America.
Directory of Corporate Archives in the United States and Canada, Society of American Archivists (SAA)
Compiled by the Business Archives Section (BAS) of the Society of American Archivists (SAA) and available on the web since 1997. It is a directory of corporate archives located in the United States and Canada.
Suomen Elinkeinoelämän Keskusarkisto
Suomen Elinkeinoelämän Keskusarkisto (ELKA) (Central Archives for Finnish Business Records) is a national non-profit organization for preserving business archives, founded in 1981 in the city of Mikkeli in central Finland. It is managed by a foundation supported by several organizations, such as the Helsinki School of Economics, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Finnish Business Archives Council, and the City of Mikkeli. Its main activities are to arrange and catalog business records deposited by companies and individuals and to provide access to them for research and other uses.
Vereinigung deutscher Wirtschaftsarchivare e.V. (VdW) (German only)
Founded in 1957, the Association of German Business Archivists is dedicated to promoting business archives, supporting the study of company history, and carrying out education and training of archivists in Germany and German-speaking countries. Membership currently includes some 400 companies, institutions, and individuals. Some articles from the Association's journal, Archiv und Wirtschaft (German only), are available in PDF format on the website, including a few articles in English.
Wirtschaftsarchivportal WAP
This is a database of corporate archives in German-speaking countries by the Association of German Business Archivists (Vereinigung deutscher Wirtschaftsarchivare e.V. : VdW), as well as European institutions that hold a certain amount of German-language business records.
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Japanese Business Heritage: Archives, Museums, Libraries and Websites
77 Bank Currency and Banking Museum, 77 Bank, Ltd. (Japanese only)
The 77 Bank Currency and Banking Museum was opened in 1998, for the 120th anniversary of the bank's founding, and introduces the history and role of money, the birth and development of banks, and the industry and economy of Miyagi Prefecture and Japan. Each floor is also introduced on the website.
Aeon History Museum, Aeon Co., Ltd. (Japanese only)
This facility, established in March 2013, aims to communicate the founding of Aeon, the origins of its basic philosophy, and its corporate culture to stakeholders through its history. Using the VR function, visitors can tour the museum online.
Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies (IMES), Bank of Japan (BoJ)
The Institute of Monetary and Economic Studies (IMES) of the Bank of Japan was established in October 1982 as an internal institution of the Bank to mark the centenary of the Bank's founding. IMES conducts research aimed at establishing the appropriate context for monetary policy and makes its archival materials available to the public. The website includes a catalog of the collection of the IMES' Currency Museum, a digital book of the Currency Museum's permanent exhibition catalog published in 2017, and information on public records made available in accordance with the Public Records and Archives Management Act. Digital images of historical documents are being made available to the public.
Chisima Real Estate - Archive Blog, Chishima Real Estate Co., Ltd. (Japanese only)
The Archive Blog of the Chishima Real Estate, which has been engaged in various businesses centered on land leasing since its establishment in 1912, introduces land development in Osaka and the Semba merchants using in-house archival materials.
Daikin - Chronology, Daikin Industries, Ltd.
The History and Milestones page introduces Daikin's history from its founding in 1924 to the present day with the History of Daikin Innovation, a timeline, and the 90 years of Daikin Industries (the full text of the published shashi on its 90-year history in PDF format). (Link to Top Page > "Perfecting the Air" > "Daikin Archivements" > "History of Daikin Innovation" )
Railway Museum, East Japan Railway Culture Foundation / East Japan Railway Company
The Railway Museum was opened in 2007 in Omiya, Saitama City, as a commemorative project for the 20th anniversary of the founding of JR East. It is a facility for the systematic preservation and research of records related to railroads, the reform of Japan National Railways, and JR Japan, for the exhibition of railroad systems as industrial history, and for hands-on learning of how railroads work. A detailed floor map is available on the website.
Ichigaya Letterpress Factory, Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (Japanese only)
The Ichigaya Letterpress Factory is a cultural facility opened in Ichigaya in November 2020 by Dai Nippon Printing, restoring the company's Ichigaya factory to the way it was when completed in 1926. The museum displays a series of processes from type design and casting, printing, and bookbinding, as well as dynamic displays of printing machines and other equipment. The website also provides access to information on past exhibitions.
History of Fujitsu, Fujitsu Limited
A virtual museum dedicated to the history of Fujitsu. It introduces the history of the company, its products and services, as well as the exhibition facilities related to the history of the company. The history of products and services is divided into the categories of "Solutions / Services," "Computers," "Telecommunications," and "Components," systematically introducing the company's products using archival materials.
Furukawa Kakemizu Club / Furukawa Asio Museum, Furukawa Co., Ltd. (Japanese only)
The Furukawa Kakemizu Club is a guesthouse that was used for entertaining and accommodating distinguished guests during the prosperous period of the Ashio Copper Mine, while the Furukawa Ashio History Museum opened in 2005 as a non-profit organization and has been operated by Furukawa Machinery & Metal Company. The museum displays dioramas of the former Ashio Mining Plant, photographs and statues of the founding families of Furukawa, items related to the Sekizuka family, who were active in the French culinary world, and materials related to Zenyuki Odagawa, a pioneer of Japan's safety-first movement.
Gunze Museum, Gunze Limited (Japanese only)
The Gunze Museum was opened in 1996 in a converted cocoon warehouse from the Taisho era to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the company's founding. The museum introduces the history and current state of Gunze, and the relationship between Ayabe City and Gunze.
I-muse IHI History Museum, IHI Corporation
IHI's history goes back to the Ishikawajima Shipyard, Japan's first modern shipyard, founded in 1853. i-muse is an exhibition facility opened in 2006 and renewed in 2018 that introduces the history of IHI's creativity and challenges, and passes them on to the future. The museum's exhibitions can also be enjoyed online via a 360° virtual tour on the website.
IHI Ishikawajima Shiryokan, IHI Corporation (Japanese only)
The Ishikawajima Shiryokan is a museum that introduces the history and culture of Ishikawajima and Tsukudajima, which have a close relationship with IHI, from the time of the founding of the Ishikawajima Shipyard, the predecessor company of today's IHI, formerly known as Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries, to the present, and the role of IHI in history with archival materials and diorama models.
Beni Museum, Isehan Co. Ltd.
This is a museum operated by Isehan Honten, a Beni shop established in 1825. The museum displays the techniques of making rouge, as well as the history and culture of makeup, along with numerous other materials. Various lectures and events are also held in the Experience Zone. The website offers access to a portion of the museum's collection, including Beniya-related materials, cosmetic tools (from the Edo period and Meiji era onward), jewelry, nishikie/prints, and documents, as well as information on past exhibitions, lectures, and events.
Bank Transition History Database – Bankers Library, Japan Bankers Association (General Incorporated Association) (Japanese only)
As a representative of the banking industry, the Japan Bankers Association, whose predecessor Takuzenkai (択善会) was founded in 1877, is engaged in a variety of activities to promote the development of the banking industry. The Bank Transition History Database contains historical data (foundation, merger, transfer of business, dissolution, trade name change, etc.) on all banks established in Japan since the Meiji era (1868-1912), making it possible to trace the evolution of banks.
Securities Archives Hall, Japan Exchange Group, Inc. (Japanese only)
The website of the Securities Archives Hall at the TSE Plaza located in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, introduces a selection of valuable securities-related materials displayed in the Hall in chronological order with detailed explanations.
Business Information Commons (BIC) Library, Japan Society for the Promotion of Machine Industry (General Incorporated Foundation)
The Japan Society for the Promotion of Machine Industry (JSME) is a charitable organization established in 1964 for the purpose of contributing to the development of Japan’s machine industry. The site provides access to a wealth of information related to the industry, including online searches of the collection of the Business Information Commons (BIC) Library, a special library, “Gateway to the Machine and Information Industry,” a list of information sources related to the machine and information industry, and the Kishinkyo Archive (機振協アーカイブ), a database of publications and databases that have ceased to be updated due to suspension or discontinuation of publication. You can access to a wealth of information related to the machinery industry.
Tobacco and Salt Museum, Japan Tobacco Inc.
The museum was established by the Japan Tobacco Monopoly Public Corporation (now Japan Tobacco Inc.) as a museum focusing on the history and culture of tobacco and salt, both of which were monopoly products. It opened in Shibuya in November 1978 and reopened in 2015 at its current location in Yokogawa, Sumida-ku. The website includes a special web exhibition featuring detailed explanations and introductions to the museum's collection by curators, information on past special and temporary exhibitions, and links to blogs and the Google Cultural Institute.
Nippon Mining Museum, JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
The Nippon Mining Museum was built in 1986 on the site of the former Hitachi Mine. The facility consists of a main building with a simulated tunnel, a mining museum, a pit and other features. It is a facility that introduces the footsteps of the JX Nippon Mining & Metals Group and the spirit of its founder, Fusanosuke Kuhara.
Kao Museum, Kao Corporation (Japanese only)
This exhibition facility is located in the Sumida Office of Kao Corporation (Sumida-ku, Tokyo), which was founded in 1887. Through the display of archival materials, the museum introduces the changes in clean and hygienic culture, the messages of the founders that have been handed down to the present, the history of business activities to date, and the latest products.
Executive Meeting Minutes of Japan Brewery, Kirin Holdings Company, Limited. (The minutes are in English and others in Japanese only)
Full records of the minutes of the board of directors’ meetings at Japan Brewery, the predecessor of Kirin, “Minutes of the Board of Directors” are now available. They cover a period of about 270 meetings from July 8, 1885 to December 21, 1904. It is extremely valuable to make available the original texts of company records (primary source), on which corporate histories (shashi) is based.
Kirin Museum of History, Kirin Holdings Company, Limited. (Japanese only)
The Kirin Museum of History is a web-based history museum on the theme of beverages. It contains a variety of content related to drinks, including the history of the Kirin Group’s iconic product brands, of liquors, and of people with close ties to beer and wine. There is also a link to the Kirin Group’s history page, which dates back to the establishment of its predecessor, the Japan Brewery Company, in 1885.
Inamori Library, KYOCERA Corporation
Inamori Library is a facility established in 2013 to learn and pass on the philosophy and principles of Kazuo Inamori, founder of Kyocera Corporation founded in 1959. Through its website, the library introduces the facility and provides information on its use, past exhibitions, and a virtual tour function.
Company History, Lion Corporation
In addition to the Lion Museum, an exhibition of unique and historical documents from the Lion's history under various themes, historical information is presented on the website under the headings "Digest", "Lion History", "Sustainability" and "Research & Development". Lion Museum is in Japanese only.
Matsushita Memorial Library, Matsushita Foundation for Management and Social Sciences (Public Interest Incorporated foundation)
In addition to materials related to Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of the Matsushita Group, the Matsushita Memorial Library collects and makes public the writings and materials of the founder, books related to management and economics, company histories (shashi), and materials on the history of Japanese management.
Mazda Museum, Mazda Motor Corporation
The Mazda Museum exhibits Mazda’s history, rotary engines, technology, assembly lines, and more. Online Mazda Museum allows visitors to experience the facility online.
Meiji Seimei-Kan, Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company (Japanese only)
The Meiji Seimei-Kan (明治生命館), completed in 1934, was involved in major historical events such as being confiscated by GHQ (General Headquarters of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers) after World War II. Today, the building houses historical rooms and archival materials. Voice guidance using smartphones is available.
Mitsubishi Archives, Mitsubishi Economic Research Institute (MERI) (Public Interest Incorporated foundation)
The Mitsubishi Economic Research Institute (MERI) is the successor of the Economic Research Department of Mitsubishi Goshi Kaisha established in 1922. The Economic Research Department became an independent foundation in 1932. The Mitsubishi Archives was established in 1996 as an affiliated facility of the MERI to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Mitsubishi, and is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and publication of historical documents related to Mitsubishi's history, as well as research and study of the history of Mitsubishi and Japan's industrial development. The website provides a catalog of historical documents (company histories and group histories). The Mitsubishi Shiryokan Ronshu (『三菱史料館論集』 Mithubishi Archives Review), which contains research results using the archives, is available on J-STAGE.
Mitsui Bunko (Public Interest Incorporated foundation) (Japanese only)
Mitsui Bunko is an archive with socio-economic and historical documents, mainly business records of the Mitsui family and the Mitsui Zaibatsu. It is a non-profit organization, incorporated as a foundation in 1965. In 1985, it established a cultural history research department (annex), and in October 2005, it opened the Mitsui Memorial Museum of Art to publicly display the artworks in its collection. On its website, a pdf version of the table of contents and some of the articles published in the Mitsui Bunko Ronso (『三井文庫論叢』), which contains the research archivements of Mitsui Bunko researchers and others, is available.
History and Future, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd. (Japanese only)
This webpage presents a timeline of the history of Mitsui Marine Insurance and Sumitomo Insurance, and events since the business integration.
NYK Maritime Museum, NYK Line
Although the museum is currently closed, the website offers a range of NYK history content, including "History of NYK", an archive of NYK history columns that appeared in the group newsletter YUSEN, Koseki (航跡) and "Compass of Time (時の羅針盤)", "History of Ships (船の歴史)", which introduces NYK ships in service before World War II, and "Sea Breeze Diary (海風日記)", which introduces the museum's collection. Information on past exhibitions and videos of past exhibis are also available. (The museum is scheduled to reopen in October 2026.)
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Entrepreneurial Museum of Challenge and Innovation, Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry
The Entrepreneurial Museum of Challenge and Innovation, established and operated by the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, aims to promote and pass on the entrepreneurial spirit through exhibitions on the challenges and innovations of entrepreneurs, who are the driving force behind social and economic development and the improvement of people’s lives. Through seminars and workshops, the museum aims to nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs. The “Corporate Museum Guide in Kansai Area” on the website is a collection of links to corporate museums in the Kansai area.
Panasonic Museum, Panasonic Corporation (Japanese only)
This facility consists of the Konosuke Matsushita Museum, which focuses on the life and personality of Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of the Panasonic Group, and the Hall of Manufacturing Ingenuity, which collects, preserves, and exhibits product, advertising, and other materials from the past. The website has two main sections, "Learning from Konosuke Matsushita" and "Understanding Monozukuri Ism," with the former including "30 Words of Konosuke Matsushita," "Exhibition Archives," "Online Projects," "Tracing Places Associated with Konosuke Matsushita," and "Changes in Corporate Advertising," and the latter including "Ism Story" and "Exhibition Archives. The "Stories of Japan's 47 Prefectures Told through Newspaper Advertisements" and "Transition of Corporate Advertisements" are noteworthy as content that illustrates the relationship between business and society.
Paper Museum (Public Interest Incorporated foundation)
The Paper Museum, established in 1950 in Oji, Kita-ku, Tokyo, known as the “birthplace of Western paper (in Japan),” introduces the history, culture, and industry of paper, both in terms of traditional Japanese paper and Western paper, which supported the economic development of modern Japan. The website provides information on the exhibitions, rare books, handmade paper, old documents and archives, and some of the paintings and prints in the collection, as well as access to past exhibitions and events.
Riken Gallery, RIKEN
This exhibition room introduces the history of RIKEN, an overview of its research, and its achievements. The RIKEN Historia page on the institute's website highlights people and commercialized research results (in Japanese only).
YEBISU BREWERY TOKYO (Formerly Museum of Yebisu Beer), Sapporo Breweries Limited
The former Museum of Yebisu Beer (currently closed) is located in the birthplace of Yebisu Beer, which was born in 1890 , and is scheduled to be reopened as YEBISU BREWERY TOKYO in 2024. The website is linked to 3D Museum of Yebisu Beer.
Sapporo Beer Museum, Sapporo Breweries Limited
This is a museum about beer that introduces the history of Sapporo Beer, which has been handed down since the Hokkaido Development Project in 1876. Located in Sapporo City. The website also features a 3D Sapporo Beer Museum.
Seiko Museum Ginza, Seiko Holdings Corporation
The Seiko Museum was established in 1981 as a museum to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the company’s founding, with the aim of collecting, preserving and studying materials and samples related to time and timepieces. In 2020, it was relocated to Ginza, Tokyo, the birthplace of K. Hattori & Co., now Seiko Holdings Corporation, and newly opened as the Seiko Museum Ginza. The website provides information on the web exhibitions, the collection, the history of Seiko, the history of time and clocks, and related knowledge and information, as well as a "360° virtual experience" of the museum.
Our Heritage, Shimizu Corporation (Japanese only)
Our Heritage page of Shimizu Corporation, founded in 1804, introduces the company’s “history,” “company treasures” of archival materials, and “columns” that explain them. In the “company treasures” section, there are nishiki-e woodblock paintings, colored blueprints, works of art, and others such as costumes, tools, materials, drawings, frames, models, etc.
NOVARE, Shimizu Corporation (Japanese only)
Shimizu Corporation built NOVARE, a center for innovation and human resource development, which includes two facilities: NOVARE Archives (Shimizu Corporation Historical Museum), an exhibition facility for historical materials related to the company's heritage, and the former Shibusawa Residence, which was built by Kisuke Shimizu, the company's second president. These facilities are scheduled to be operational in the spring of 2024.
Shiseido Corporate Museum, Shiseido Company, Limited
Opened in 1992, the 120th anniversary of the company's founding, the museum exhibits the history of the company, product packaging, posters, newspaper and magazine advertisements, TV commercials and other advertising-related materials, and the evolution of beauty consultant costumes. Some of the posters and products are introduced on the website. (From the top page, click on "About Us" > "History" > "Chronology" > "1992" > "Shiseido Corporate Museum".)
Sumitomo Historical Archives, Sumitomo Group
The Sumitomo Historical Archives is an organization specializing in collecting, cataloging, and preserving of various records and materials related to the business history of the Sumitomo family and Sumitomo Group companies. The start of the archives goes back to the compilation work of the Sumitomo Family history in 1887 in the Osaka head office. For academic purposes, the archives can be used by prior appointment. On the website, a catalog of modern historical materials and some of the articles published in the Sumitomo Shiryo Sosho Geppo (『住友史料叢書月報』) and Sumitomo Shushi Shitsuho (『住友修史室報』) are available for viewing, as well as the PDF files of the text of Izumiya Soukou (『泉屋叢考』) 1 to 23 series.
Takashimaya Archives, Takashimaya Co., Ltd. (Japanese only)
The Takashimaya Archives opened in 1970 on the third floor of the Takashimaya East Annex Building with the aim of collecting and preserving records and materials from the company's history since its founding and making them widely available to the public and utilizing them. It is the center of the company's archives activities, which researches Takashimaya's history, passes down its corporate culture and founding philosophy, and disseminates its basic values and culture both within and outside the company. The collection includes art works, department store materials, and documents of the founding family. The website introduces some of the items in the collection and provides access to information on past exhibitions and events.
Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum (Public Interest Incorporated foundation)
Established in 1984, this is the only museum in Japan dedicated to carpentry tools. In the "Publications" tab of the site, catalogs, research bulletins, books, and the Tool Museum News are introduced with book images and tables of contents, making it a useful resource for information in the field of carpentry tools. The website provides access to information on past exhibitions.
Teikoku Databank Historical Museum, Teikoku Databank, Ltd. (Japanese only)
Opened in April 2007, the Teikoku Databank Historical Museum is the only museum and archive of its kind in the credit research industry, exhibiting 200 years of global history of the industry and its role in society, as well as various special exhibitions related to corporate activities. The website offers the full-text of the archived newsletters, past exhibition information, 360°VR MUSEUM, and a search function for approximately 9,000 business documents, including business and other organizational history books (shashi) deposited by the Japan Business History Institute.
History of Tokio Marine & Nichido, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. (Japanese only)
This webpage presents a chronological history of the company since its founding in 1879 as Japan's first insurance company.
Printing Museum, Tokyo, Toppan Inc.
The Printing Museum, established by Toppan Printing in 2000, introduces the role that printing has played in people's lives mainly through exhibition activities. The museum offers a workshop where visitors can experience printing. The website presents an archive of information related to past exhibitions and a part of the museum's collection with detailed explanations.
Toraya Bunko, Toraya Confectionery Co., Ltd. (Japanese only)
Toraya Bunko was established in 1973 with the aim of contributing to the transmission and creation of Japanese confectionery culture. On the web page, there are "Little Stories about Toraya" section categorized by ingredients, manufacturing method, and history, a timeline from the company's founding to the present in the "History of Toraya" section, and the text of the company history (shashi) Five Centuries of Toraya: Management of Tradition and Innovation (published in 2003) section . In the "Confectionary Reference Room : Toraya Archive" section, articles on "Historical Figures and Japanese Confectionaries” and the table of contents of the latest and back issues of the journal Wagashi (和菓子), and information on past exhibitions of materials are available. Visitors will find a wealth of reading material. The Toraya Archives Historical Records, a video created on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Toraya Bunko's founding in 2023, is now available on the Toraya website in Japanese and English.
Toshiba Science Museum, Toshiba Corporation
The Toshiba Science Museum was opened in 1961 to commemorate the 85th anniversary of Toshiba. In 2013 the museum was relocated, and reopened in 2014. The museum features a zone on Toshiba's history, a zone where children can learn about science and technology through experiments and workshops, and a zone for experiencing the future. The website also provides detailed explanations on pages such as "Roots of Toshiba" and "The First of Their Kinds".
TOTO Museum, TOTO Ltd.
TOTO, founded in 1917, opened this museum as a commemorative project to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its founding in order to understand and pass on the spirit and history of the company. The museum features the exhibits on the culture and history of water-related products, TOTO's philosophy of manufacturing, and the evolution of its products. The website offers virtual exhibit rooms and weekly online tours (reservations required).
Toyobo Story - Tracing 140 Years -, Toyobo Co., Ltd.
The TOYOBO Story: 140 Years of TOYOBO" is a page about the history of the company. Takeo Yamanobe, the founder of the company, met Eiichi Shibusawa in 1879, and Eiichi encouraged him to become a spinning engineer, which led to the founding of the company.
75 Years of Toyota, Toyota Motor Corporation
Toyota Motor Corporation, founded in 1937, compiled the 75 Years of Toyota Motor History to commemorate the 75th anniversary of its founding. (Link to Top Page > "Company Top" > "History of Toyota" > "75 Years of Toyota")
Toyota Automobile Museum, Toyota Motor Corporation
The Toyota Automobile Museum, established in April 1989 as part of Toyota Motor Corporation's 50th anniversary celebration, is a museum that introduces the history of automobiles and car culture around the world. On the website, in addition to providing information about the facility and articles related to museum activities, visitors can use the Vehicle Database, a digital archive that allows access to some of the museum's exhibits and collection vehicles, and the "Museum News Archives," a digital archive of museum newsletters.
Wakachiku Museum, Wakachiku Construction Co., Ltd. (Japanese only)
The Wakachiku Museum is a facility that exhibits business records of Wakachiku Construction since its establishment as the Wakamatsu Port Construction Company in 1890, as well as valuable materials from local residents of Kitakyushu City. The exhibit also includes a section on Eiichi Shibusawa.
Communication Plaza, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
The YAMAHA Communication Plaza is an exhibition facility that introduces Yamaha Motor and its products. The web page provides an index of the facility's collection of exhibits, a collection of past Yamaha Motor publications and archival videos, and information on past exhibits. The "Yamaha History" page, linked from the "Stories" tab, provides historical information and stories related to chronology, events, and products.
Kuronekoyamato History Museum, Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd.
The museum was established to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the Yamato Group's founding in 2019, and features a theater, a TA-Q-BIN Hands-on corner, and a Future Creation Lounge & Library, in addition to exhibits on the company's 100-year journey. A floor map is available on the website.
The Ad Museum Tokyo, Yoshida Hideo Memorial Foundation (Public Interest Incorporated foundation)
The Ad Museum opened in 2002 is a facility operated by the Yoshida Hideo Memorial Foundation, which was established in 1965 to honor the achievements of Dentsu's fourth president, Hideo Yoshida, and to carry on his legacy and passion. The museum has a collection of about 330,000 items from the Edo period to the present, including signboards, nishiki-e woodblock paintings, advertising pictures, sugoroku, hikifuda, ebira, newspaper advertisements, PR papers, premiums and appendices, posters, etc. Some of these items are also available on the website.
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Academic Institutions with Business Records Collections
Collections - Hitotsubashi University Library
The Business and Industrial Histories Collection (Company history), a collection of representative corporate documents mainly from the U.K., U.S. and Germany. Among them, Accounting Books of Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha consists of 1,357 books of accounting books covering about 100 years from the foundation of Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (1885). The electronic images are available as one of the special collections in the university's institutional repository, HERMES-IR.
Integrated Center for Corporate Archives - Research Institute for Economics and Business Administration (RIEB), Kobe University (Japanese only)
The Integrated Center for Corporate Archives collects, processes, and provides access to documents, materials, and data related to business analysis. The center holds financial statements and business reports of domestic companies, annual reports of foreign companies, company histories (shashi), and other business records and materials of the trading company Kanematsu, as well as Kanebo. Business reports and securities reports held by the center, the database of multinational corporations' genealogical charts, and the catalog of the Kanebo materials can be searched from the web.
Library of Economics, University of Tokyo
The library is one of the leading economics libraries in Japan and has a particularly strong collection of histories of business and other corporate entities. The library also has an extensive collection of modern and contemporary business records, such as the records of Yamaichi Securities and Yokohama Specie Bank. The library's website provides access to Engel, a database of digital archives and catalogs of original and archival materials, and Engel can also be searched through the University of Tokyo's Academic Archives Portal. It further offers a consolidated search of business reports, securities reports, and prospectuses from the University of Tokyo's Library of Economics.
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Other Societies and Institutions related to Business History and Archives
Business History Society of Japan
The development of corporate historiography and corporate archives in Japan is deeply connected with business history research. The Japan Society for Business History established in 1964 has two journals, Keieishigaku (『経営史学』 Japan Business History Review), and the Japanese Research in Business History.
Game Preservation Society (Specified Non-profit Corporation)
It is a non-profit organization established in 2011 for the purpose of researching, developing, and providing information on preservation techniques and methods for electronic games and related equipment and materials, promoting and educating the public, collaborating with and supporting archivists, companies, and organizations, and promoting culture and the transmission of cultural assets through preservation and storage, thereby contributing broadly to the public interest. In addition to providing information on activities related to the preservation of electronic games, the website publishes Game Preservation Society Game Catalog, a database of official game catalogs, which are supported by a grant from the Agency for Cultural Affairs for the Media Arts Archive Promotion Support Project.
Japan Art Documentation Society
The Japan Art Documentation Society (JADS) was founded in April 1989, with the object of promoting the development of art documentation and resolving problems related to such matters within and outside Japan. The JADS Literature Database is useful for searching literature related to business archives, libraries, and museums.
Japan Society for Archival Science (JSAS)
Established in 2004 to study and implement theories and practices for the creation, preservation, and utilization of records and archives in Japan and the world to contribute to the development of the archives system in Japan. Since 2012, the society has been administering a certification and registration system for archivists. The society is a Category B Member (Professional Associations) of the International Council on Archives (ICA). The society publishes Journal of the Japan Society for Archival Science.
Japan Society for Digital Archive
Established in 2017, the Society aims to contribute to the development of digital archiving through research and encouraging mutual exchange between industry, government, academia, and the private sector. In addition to the four subcommittees (Legal System, Technology, Regional Archive, and Industry and Data/Contents) and the Kansai Branch, there are also study groups on theories, on "Examination of Digitization Consent Forms and Contracts", on Japan Search, and on digital archives related to the COVID-19. Also, special interest groups related to specific themes, such as war-related materials are active. The society publishes Dejitaru Akaibu Gakkaishi.
Fonds: "Materials formerly owned by the Preparatory Office of the Museum of Japanese Business History" Archival Holdings on Japanese History, National Institute of Japanese Literature (NIJL)
Keizo Shibusawa, the grandson of Eiichi Shibusawa, conceived the idea of establishing the Museum of Japanese Business History (日本実業史博物館) as a commemorative project to honor the legacy of Eiichi Shibusawa. When the project was discontinued due to World War II, the materials collected by the Preparatory Office for the Museum were donated to the Archives of the former Ministry of Education (now the National Institute of Japanese Literature), where they remain to this day. These historical materials can be searched as Materials formerly owned by the Preparatory Office of the Museum of Japanese Business History (日本実業史博物館準備室旧蔵資料) on the Database of Archival Holdings on Japanese History of the NIJL. The link in this section is to a page about the catalog titled The 11th Catalog of Historical Materials Held by the Archives (of the former Ministry of Education) (『史料館所蔵史料目録』第11集). It includes a link to the annotation of the "Materials formerly owned by the Preparatory Office of the Museum of Japanese Business History" and "Outline of the Fonds".
Records Management Society of Japan
The Society was established in 1989 with the aim of recognizing the importance of records, scientifically analyzing how people choose to act in relation to records and responding to practical needs. The current practices and status of documents, as well as records management in companies, have been discussed at regular meetings and research conferences. The society publishes Records Management.
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Shashi Publications related Websites
Company Histories - University of Hawaii at Manoa Library
It is possible to search the lists by industry and an alphabetical order of corporate histories (shashi) held by the University of Hawaii Library.
Industry Entrepreneurship Library, The Industry Club of Japan (General Incorporated Association) (Japanese only)
The Industry Club of Japan was established in 1917 by leading figures in business in order to promote the development of industry in Japan. The first chairman was Takuma Dan, manager of the Mitsui zaibatsu. The collections of the Entrepreneurship Library (Japanese only) contain entrepreneurs’ biographies, shashi, and histories of economic organizations.
Japan Business History Institute (General Incorporated Foundation) (Japanese only)
The Japan Business History Institute was established in 1968 with the aim of facilitating the compilation of shashi. The institute assists the production of shashi, collects books and records related to business, and honors accomplished shashi publications with testimonials and commendations.
Kanagawa Prefectural Kawasaki Library (Japanese only)
Opened in 1958, the Kawasaki Library and its collections focus on the fields of science, engineering and industrial technology and include approximately 15,000 shashi publications. Users can search shashi by company name from the shashi collections page (Japanese only) or by title or other keyword from the library’s OPAC site (Japanese only).
How to Find Shashi- Research Navi, National Diet Library (Japanese only)
An annotated guide on how to search for shashi, including those held by the National Diet Library (NDL). The NDL’s English website includes an overview of services available, including reference services for individuals and institutions outside of Japan. There is also a list of information on histories of foreign companies (explanation in Japanese only, some links in English).
Shibusawa Shashi Database (SSD), Shibusawa Eiichi Memorial Foundation (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)
This site allows users to search the contents of company histories (shashi), basically with which Eiichi Shibusawa was associated, using data such as tables of contents, indexes, timelines, and reference sections. Through these histories, one can learn about the people and companies that played a role in the economic and social development of modern Japan, as well as the impact of economic development on social change and daily life. We hope the database will be of use in various ways for business activities and research.
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Others
H-Business
This is a business history discussion network for researchers.
Meiji Jingu
Eiichi Shibusawa played a central role in the construction of the Meiji Shrine, which is dedicated to Emperor Meiji, by serving as vice president and director of the Supporters' Association and as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Construction Bureau. The Meiji Jingu website provides information on the Meiji Jingu Museum's collection, exhibitions, and the activities of the Meiji Jingu International Institute for Shinto Culture.
National Archives of Japan
The National Archives of Japan (NAJ) was established in 1971 to preserve, manage, and make available to the public important historical records and other materials that have been transferred from government agencies. The Naikaku Bunko Collection, which includes records of the Edo Shogunate, is an important part of the NAJ holdings. In addition to launching a certification system for archivists in 2020, the NAJ has been training professionals in archives management and actively participating in international cooperation as a member of the International Council on Archives (ICA).
Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology - National Museum of Nature and Science
The Center for Information on the History of Industrial Technology was established by the National Museum of Nature and Science in 2002. It conducts research and disseminates information in three main areas: locating and surveying materials related to the development of Japanese industrial technology; systematizing research on technology to explore the relationship between technological development and society, culture, and economy; and selecting and registering important materials on the history of science and technology. It is possible to search for materials in the "Database of History of Japanese Industrial Technology" and other databases.
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