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The 14th Disclosure of Diplomatic Records

December 25, 1998

Since 1976 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has disclosed old diplomatic records. These records are available to the public by microfilm at the Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1-5-3 Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Tel. : 03-3585-4511, Fax.: 03-3585-4514).

  1. In June, 1998, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan announced the 14th round of diplomatic record disclosure. These records were disclosed in two separated categories, namely main items and general items, the same as the last disclosure of 1997.

    i) In the main diplomatic items category, 128 items (756 files in total) were disclosed this time, those related to official visits of Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers and other important Japanese government officials as well as the negotiation processes of bilateral treaties in the fields of commerce, taxation and air services.

    ii) In the general items category, a total of 781 items (1,673 files in total) were disclosed, those related to the International Military Tribunal for the Far East and other military-conducted judicial proceedings after World War II, and cultural affairs, including cultural exchanges with foreign countries in various fields.

    For additional information on the abovementioned items, kindly consult the "List of Main Items in the 14th Disclosure" (Annex 1), and the "Outline of General Items in the 14th Disclosure" (Annex 2).
  2. Furthermore, the previously disclosed diplomatic records are also available at the Diplomatic Archives. A total of 6,964 disclosed files of diplomatic records is available from the first disclosure in 1976 to the 13th disclosure of last year (total of 9,393 files to the 14th disclosure).

[Annex 1]

List of Main Items in the 14th Disclosure

I. Bilateral Diplomatic Relations

A. General Bilateral Relations:

  1. The Republic of China
    (1 file, December 1951 - October 1958)
  2. The People's Republic of China
    (3 files, January 1956 - December 1961)
  3. The Republic of South Africa
    (2 files, June 1960 - May 1964)

B. Overseas Official Visits by Key Japanese Government Officials, etc.:

  1. Official Visits by Prime Minister Hayato Ikeda;

    a) The United States and Canada
    (11 files, January 1961 - March 1962)

    b) Asian Countries
    (9 files, February 1961 - May 1962)

    c) Europe
    (14 files,. January 1962 - January 1963)

  2. Official Visits by Foreign Minister Masayoshi Ohira;

    a) Europe and the United States of America
    (5 files, July 1962 - October 1962)

    b) Europe
    (6 files, February 1963 - November 1963)

    c) The Republic of China
    (2 files, July 1964 - September 1964)

  3. Official Visits by Foreign Minister Zentaro Kosaka;

    a) The United States of America and Canada
    (3 files, July 1960 - December 1960)

    b) Europe
    (7 files, March 1961 - August 1961)

  4. Official Visits by Foreign Minister Etsusaburo Shiina;

    a) The United States of America
    (1 file, September 1964 - December 1964)

    b) Europe
    (1 file, April 1965 - August 1965)

    c) Southeast Asian Countries
    (3 files, August 1966 - October 1966)

  5. Other Official Visits by Cabinet Members

    a) Health and Welfare Minister Hideji Kawasaki's Visit to New Zealand
    (1 file, September 1955 - October 1955)

    b) Finance Minister Eisaku Sato's Visit to the United States of America and Canada
    (1 file, July 1959 - October 1959)

    c) Ex-Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida's Visit to Southeast Asian and Pacific Countries
    (9 files, October 1959 - January 1960)

C. Official Visits by His Imperial Highness The Crown Prince Akihito and Her Imperial Highness The Crown Princess Michiko

  1. The United States of America (5 files, January 1959 - October 1961)
  2. Iran and Three Other Countries (5 files, December 1959 - December 1961)
  3. The Philippines (2 files, March 1960 - March 1963)
  4. Three Southeast Asian Countries (1 file, June 1961 - February 1962)

II. Bilateral Treaties

A. Treaties of Commerce and Navigation:

  1. European Countries:

    a) The United Kingdom (Treaty of Commerce, Establishment, Resident and Navigation)
    (47 files, April 1952 - June 1963)

    b) France (Treaty of Commerce and Navigation)
    (2 files, September 1951 - June 1963)

    c) Norway (Treaty of Commerce and Navigation)
    (5 files, June 1952 - October 1957)

    d) Yugoslavia (Treaty of Commerce and Navigation)
    (5 files, January 1952 - October 1957)

    e) Poland (Treaty of Commerce)
    (1 file, August 1957 - May 1959)

    f) Poland (Agreement on Trade and Terms of Payment)
    (1 file, August 1957 - May 1959)

    g) Czechoslovakia (Treaty of Commerce)
    (2 files, February 1957 - February 1961)

    h) The Benelux Countries (Agreement on Commerce)
    (7 files, October 1956 - July 1966)

  2. Asian and Pacific Countries:

    a) Australia (Agreement on Commerce)
    (15 files, March 1954 - January 1960)

    b) New Zealand (Agreement on Commerce)
    (4 files, July 1957 - October 1962)

    c) India (Agreement on Commerce)
    (3 files, December 1952 - July 1958)

    d) Pakistan (Treaty of Friendship and Commerce)
    (5 files, April 1952 - August 1965)

    e) Malaya (Agreement on Commerce)
    (5 files, August 1958 - May 1960)

    f) Indonesia (Treaty of Friendship and Commerce)
    (6 files, January 1958 - June 1963)

    g) The Philippines (Treaty of Commerce and Navigation)
    (24 files, May 1956 - August 1968)

  3. Other Countries:

    a) Argentina (Agreement on Commerce)
    (7 files, December 1959 - March 1959)

    b) Argentina (Treaty of Commerce and Navigation)
    (3 files, March 1961 - March 1967)

    c) El Salvador (Agreement on Commerce)
    (4 files, May 1960 - May 1964)

    d) Ghana (Agreement on Trade)
    (1 file, February 1961 - March 1963)

B. Conventions for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income:

  1. European Countries:

    a) Sweden
    (5 files, December 1953 - May 1965)

    b) Norway
    (2 files, February 1958 - October 1959)

    c) Denmark
    (2 files, January 1958 - April 1959)

    d) West Germany
    (5 files, May 1959 - August 1967)

    e) Austria
    (2 files, August 1960 - March 1963)

    f) The United Kingdom
    (5 files, June 1953 - December 1970)

    g) France
    (5 files, April 1960 - July 1965)

  2. Asian and Pacific Countries:

    a) Pakistan
    (5 files, April 1958 - July 1965)

    b) India
    (3 files, January 1953 - November 1974)

    c) Ceylon
    (4 files, April 1958 - August 1968)

    d) Singapore
    (4 files, August 1959 - September 1961)

    e) Thailand
    (5 files, May 1958 - July 1963)

    f) Malaya
    (4 files, October 1955 - September 1963)

    g) New Zealand
    (1 file, May 1958 - August 1967)

  3. Other Countries:

    a) Canada
    (4 files, February 1958 - April 1965)

    b) Brazil
    (5 files, July 1953 - December 1967)

C. Aviation Agreements:

  1. European Countries:

    a) Belgium
    (4 files, July 1952 - July 1961)

    b) West Germany
    (5 files, March 1960 - February 1965)

    c) Italy
    (2 files, October 1953 - July 1963)

    d) The Soviet Union
    (2 files, February 1957 - December 1969)

  2. Southwest Asian and Middle East Countries:

    a) India
    (4 files, March 1963 - August 1965)

    b) Pakistan
    (6 files, April 1963 - February 1975)

    c) The United Arab Republic
    (1 file, March 1961 - July 1963)

    d) Kuwait
    (1 file, January 1962 - June 1963)

    e) Lebanon
    (2 files, October 1963 - October 1972)

  3. Southeast Asian Countries:

    a) Malaysia
    (4 files, October 1963 - January 1972)

    b) Singapore
    (1 file, May 1966 - May 1967)

    c) Indonesia
    (2 files, October 1960 - March 1971)

  4. Other Countries:

    a) Brazil
    (4 files, November 1952 - October 1962)

D. Atomic Energy Agreements:

  1. Special Nuclear Material Lease Agreement between Japan and the United States of America
    (13 files, November 1955 - October 1964)
  2. Agreements between Japan, the United States of America and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the Application of Agency Safeguards to the Bilateral Agreement for Cooperation concerning Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy
    (3 files, May 1960 - May 1964)
  3. Agreement for Cooperation between Japan and the United States of America concerning Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy
    (3 files, September 1964 - December 1968)
  4. Agreement between Japan, the United States of America and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the Application of Agency Safeguards to the Bilateral Agreement concerning Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy
    (1 file, May 1967 - July 1968)
  5. Agreement between Japan and Canada for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy
    (5 files, February 1957 - July 1960)
  6. Agreement among Japan, Canada and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Agency Safeguards to the Bilateral Agreement for Cooperation concerning Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy
    (3 files, September 1957 - October 1966)

E. Other Agreements:

  1. Postwar Settlement of Reparations Claims:

    a) Agreements concerning Settlement of Certain Claims Made by the Axis Power Countries and Neutral Countries
    (1 file, October 1945 - July 1958)

    b) Agreement between Japan and Spain regarding Settlement of Certain Spanish Claims
    (2 files, May 1952 - April 1957)

    c) Agreement between Japan and Sweden regarding Settlement of Certain Swedish Claims
    (7 files, December 1941 - March 1959)

    e) Agreement between Japan and the United States regarding Settlement of American Claims for Postwar Economic Assistance to Japan [GARIOA]
    (21 files, August 1945 - March 1969)

  2. Consular Conventions:

    a) The United States of America
    (3 files, March 1953 - July 1963)

    b) The United Kingdom
    (6 files, June 1952 - March 1967)

    c) The United States of America (Exchange Notes Constituting an Agreement concerning Reciprocal Waving of Passport Visa Fees)
    (1 file, May 1952 - July 1954)

    e) The Soviet Union
    (1 file, May 1965 - July 1967)

  3. Parcel Post Agreements:

    a) New Zealand
    (1 file, August 1961 - July 1965)

    b) The Philippines
    (2 files, July 1949 - September 1963)

    c) South Africa
    (1 file, April 1956 - July 1963)

  4. Fisheries Agreements:

    a) Australia
    (4 files, February 1953 - February 1959)

    b) New Zealand
    (2 files, December 1965 - July 1968)

  5. Immigration Agreements:

    a) Brazil
    (17 files, February 1958 - November 1963)

    b) Argentina
    (2 files, August 1963 - December 1963)

  6. Cultural Agreement:

    a) Brazil
    (2 files, May 1957 - June 1964)

III. International Political Issues

A. Border Disputes

  1. Between Communist China and India
    (18 files, June 1952 - April 1966)
  2. Between South Vietnam and Cambodia
    (5 files, August 1955 - May 1966)
  3. Between Thailand and Cambodia
    (3 files, June 1954 - October 1966)
  4. Between India and Pakistan
    (2 files, October 1953 - October 1967)

B. International Disputes:

  1. The Suez Crisis
    (36 files, May 1953 - February 1962)
  2. West Irian Issue
    (26 files, July 1952 - September 1965)
  3. Middle East
    (15 files, February 1955 - March 1960)
  4. Between France and Tunisia
    (4 files, May 1957 - December 1963)
  5. Laos
    (9 files, November 1957 - December 1975)
  6. Hungarian Revolt
    (5 files, March 1956 - October 1963)

C. Nuclear Tests:

  1. Concerning General Affairs
    (3 files, September 1954 - October 1965)
  2. The United States of America
    (13 files, September 1952 - October 1965)
  3. The United Kingdom
    (3 files, September 1950 - March 1965)
  4. The Soviet Union
    (5 files, September 1949 - March 1952)
  5. France
    (6 files, December 1957 - July 1968)
  6. India
    (1 file, June 1974)
  7. Concerning the Stance of Various Countries regarding Nuclear Tests
    (2 files, March 1954 - May 1965)

D. Others:

  1. Concerning the Intrusion of U.S. Aircraft into Soviet Air Space
    (4 files, November 1959 - September 1962)
  2. Concerning Several Incidents related to Defections from Various Countries, including that of Zhou Hongqing
    (9 files, October 1963 - July 1964)
  3. Concerning Adjudication of Japan-Australia Fishing Disputes
    (9 files, September 1953 - May 1956)

IV. Bilateral Economic Relations

A. Economic Cooperation:

  1. Indonesia
    (25 files, March 1952 - April 1966)
  2. Thailand (Article 2 of the Special Yen Agreement)
    (3 files, June 1957 - November 1959)
  3. Yugoslavia
    (2 files, February 1966 - September 1966)
  4. Paraguay
    (3 files, October 1956 - December 1966)
  5. Burma
    (7 files, October 1952 - March 1964)
  6. India
    (2 files, August 1956 - December 1965)
  7. Ceylon
    (5 files March 1952 - November 1964)
  8. Pakistan
    (17 files, April 1951 - December 1964)
  9. Ghana
    (1 file, April 1960 - May 1972)

B. Japan-China Trade Relations:

  1. Economic Relations between Japan and Communist China
    (1 file, September 1945 - September 1963)
  2. Trade Relations between Japan and Communist China
    (4 files, May 1949 - December 1964)
  3. Private Trade Agreements between Japanese Private Sector and Communist China
    (5 files, August 1962 - May 1968)
  4. Exchange Notes between Tatsunosuke Takasaki and Liao Chengzhi
    (11 files, August 1962 - May 1968)

C. International Organizations:

  1. Tariff Negotiations for Japanese Entry into GATT
    (28 files, January 1953 - November 1955)
  2. Japanese Entry into the OECD
    (5 files, May 1960 - June 1964)
  3. General Session of GATT in Tokyo
    (16 files, November 1957 - February 1960)
  4. International Conferences, Treaties and Agreements regarding Marine Affairs
    (1 file, June 1946 - July 1973)

[Annex 2]

Outline of General Items in the 14th Disclosure

I. Records Related to War Crimes Trials

The records related to war crimes trials deal with the International Military Tribunal for the Far East for Class-A war criminals and trials conducted by Allied military authorities for Class-B and Class-C war criminals.

Among these, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released all documents in its possession related to the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (D'1.3.0.1).

On the other hand, the records related to Class-B and Class-C war crimes defendants include court records of trials by the Yokohama Military Court and other trials conducted throughout Asia concerning Class-B and Class-C war criminals (D'1.3.0.2), particulars of war crimes trials, including those for the Tokyo War Crimes Trials (D'1.3.0.1), as well as documents related to the question of releasing convicted Class-A, Class-B and Class-C war criminals incarcerated in Sugamo Prison in Tokyo, overseas prison, etc. after the San Francisco Peace Treaty took effect (D'1.3.0.3), and other materials.

Only the documents related to Class-B and Class-C war crimes are not available on microfilm. However, photocopies of the original documents can be accessed to at the Diplomatic Archives.

II. Records Related to Cultural Affairs

Culture-related documents disclosed this time cover all those dating from the end of the War up until around 1970. These are organized in document files in Category I', subdivided into groups 1 through 7.

The culture-related codes (Category I') are as follows;

Group 1 Culture, Cultural Facilities
Division 1 Cultural Exchanges; Overseas Studies, Goodwill Activities
Division 2 Scholarship, Academic Titles, Academic Organizations, Academic Research Institutes
Division 3 Education
Division 4 Schools
Division 5 Libraries, Museums, Expositions, Exhibitions, Art Museums
Division 6 Historical Relics, Monuments, Local Traditions, Customs
Division 7 The Arts [The Fine Arts, Literature, Music, Film, Performing Arts], Copyright, Tea Ceremony, Flower Arrangement, Calligraphy
Division 8 Associations, Cultural Groups, Youth Groups
Division 9 Parks, Zoos, Botanical Gardens
Division10 Physical Education, Sports, Athletics, Recreation
Division11 Meteorology, Time, Astronomy, Space
Group 2 Religion, Shrines, Temples, Churches
Division 1 Religion
Division 2 Shrines, Temples, Churches
Group 3 Public Health
Division 1 Public Health, Insurance
Division 2 Contagious Diseases, Medical Inspections, Inoculations
Division 3 Medical Affairs, Medicines
Group 4 Labor
Division 1 Labor Regulations and Policies
Division 2 Workers, Worker Protection, Working Conditions
Division 3 Labor Disputes Strikes, Work Stoppages
Group 5 Ideological Problems
Group 6 Social Problems
Division 1 Social Regulations and Policies
Division 2 Social Facilities, Social Projects
Division 3 The Red Cross and Red Cross Hospitals
Group 7 Disasters and Disaster Relief

Group 1 deals with general cultural interaction. This includes such items as the acceptance of students from abroad or the sending of Japanese to study abroad, sister city relationships such as existed between Tokyo and New York or Nagoya and Los Angels, and other forms of "grassroots-level" interchange. All are included in Division 1. Activities by groups fostering international understanding, such as the United Nations Association or the America-Japan Society, Inc. are included in Division 8. Activities related to parks and zoos, including exchanges of zoo animals, are classified in Division 9.

Records concerning schools, education and cultural affairs appear in appropriate divisions, although they are all forms of general cultural interchange. For example, materials on schools for Japanese residents abroad are to be found in Division 4; educational relations with foreign countries in Division 3; and historical sites and customs, including the preservation of historical sites in various countries in Division 6.

Other forms of general cultural activities are efforts to further promote the study of the Japanese language overseas, the dispatch of academic study groups and scientific observation at the South Pole (Division 2); professional exchanges of knowledge, such as in various forms of scientific cooperation, including meteorological data collection and space development cooperation (Division 11); exhibitions of Japanese art abroad or the entry of Japanese movies in foreign film festivals, and other such cultural activities (Division 5); cultural interchanges, including overseas performances of kabuki troupes, Japanese orchestras, etc. and introduction of Japanese cultural forms, such as the tea ceremony, and other cultural activities (Division 7); and sports interchanges, including the 1960 Tokyo Olympics (Division 10).

In addition to such general forms of cultural interchange, there are religion-related materials, including the religious situation in various countries (Group 2); medical-and public health-related materials, including information communicable diseases licensing of physicians and pharmacists and pharmacologists, and new pharmaceuticals (Group 3); materials on labor affairs, including labor regulations, unions, labor movements, etc. in various countries (Group 4); ideological questions, including student movement in various countries (Group 5); social problems, social activities (Group 6); and so on.

Within Group 7; Disasters and Disaster Prevention, you can find the materials on the activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross, etc., records of the support given by foreign nations when Japan was hit by natural disasters, such as the Ise Bay Typhoon, as aid rendered by Japan at the time of major disasters, such as the huge earthquake in Chile and massive flooding in Pakistan; or other records concerning disaster relief, recovery aid, etc. following disasters both in Japan and abroad.

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