Activities
1. Public Access to Historical Documents
Under the Rules Concerning Use of the Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, all persons wishing to read archival materials stored in the Diplomatic Archives are allowed access to its diplomatic documents and materials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the Main Building Reading Room.
Ministerial records through the end of World War II can be accessed by printed catalogues. Postwar documents are available on microfilms, which can be searched in directories.
2. Reference Service
The Diplomatic Archives offers reference service regarding diplomatic records and the diplomatic history of Japan to visitors and researchers in Japan and overseas.
3. Exhibitions
The Annex has an Exhibition Room open to the public. The standing exhibition includes major national and diplomatic documents from the end of the Tokugawa period to the Treaty of Peace with Japan signed in San Francisco in 1951. This Exhibition Room also has on display personal articles of the late Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida and documents related to his administration. Special exhibitions are also held on various themes.
4. Publication of Nihongaikobunsho (Documents on Japanese Foreign Policy)
The Nihongaikobunsho is compiled from valuable historical records held by the Ministry, each volume consists of records arranged chronologically under specific subject.
First published in 1936, the series contains 73 volumes covering the Meiji Period and 57 volumes on the Taisho Period (including special feature volumes such as on the Paris Peace Conference and the Washington Conference ). Compilation of Showa Period including the post war period is presently underway, two or three volumes are published every year. Compilation of diplomatic documents such as Foreign Relations of the United States and Documents on British Foreign Policy is regarded as national projects in various countries.
5. Access to the Declassified documents
Visitors are allowed access to the declassified documents (copy) with historical value disclosed under the Law concerning Access to Information held by Administrative Organs.
6. Research and Collection of Historical Materials
In order to supplement the Foreign Ministry records lost in war or for other reasons, efforts are being directed to the collection of foreign policy records. Invaluable records and other materials have also been donated by persons and surviving families of persons who have been involved in Japan's diplomatic history.
7. Lectures and Study Sessions
Lectures and study sessions on the history of Japan's foreign policy are held at the Main Auditorium (seating capacity: 120) as a part of the programme to promote understanding of Japan's foreign policy.
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