The Japan Times Archives
- Search and view data from 1897 up until a year ago
- Contains an array of valuable content from a unique angle as an English-language newspaper in Japan.
- Encompasses articles, photos and advertisements, which can be used for PR material.
OUTLINE OF THE JAPAN TIMES ARCHIVES
The Japan Times Archives enables users to easily search for about 600,000 pages of articles, ranging from the paper’s inaugural issue in March 1897 to those published the previous year.
The Japan Times continues to report with perspectives absent from Japanese-language papers, as well as clear, contextual explanations for non-Japanese readers.
The database offers valuable historical content covering domestic and international politics, economy, culture, TV schedules, advertisements, weather forecasts and other useful topics.
The Japan Times Archives is used in universities, schools, libraries and research institutes in Japan and abroad.
The archives are useful for researchers interested in the subjects listed below:
- East Asia's geopolitics, history
- Japanese politics
- Japanology
- Japanese, military, media and journalism history
- Research on newspapers
We also sell archive content to companies and organizations.
Our content is an impactful addition to any PR materials and events celebrating your organizations'anniversaries. We are also able to provide proposals for packages on international PR strategies.
Serving as the nation’s premier English-language news source since 1897,
The Japan Times is proud of its history
The greatest foreign policy challenge facing the Japanese government in the Meiji Era (1868–1912) was rewriting the unequal treaties forced upon the country as it opened up to the world during the shogunate’s twilight years.
Among the concessions imposed on Japan by those treaties were the extraterritorial foreign settlements established in seven cities across the country. Friction between the members of those settlements and the native residents of neighboring communities soon became a major headache for the nation.
There was at least one organization eager to address such friction. Ahead of the 1899 return of the foreign settlements to Japanese control, The Japan Times was launched on March 22, 1897, with the goal of clearing up misunderstandings between Japanese and foreigners, conveying the true state of Japanese affairs to nonnative readers and advancing cross-cultural understanding ― a role perfect for Japan’s first English-language newspaper run and edited by Japanese. The Japan Times was initially helmed by Sueji Yamada, a distant relative of Yukichi Fukuzawa, the founder of Keio University, and employed as its editor-in-chief Motosada Zumoto, who had served as a secretary to the celebrated Meiji Era statesman Hirobumi Ito.
From 1918 to 1940, The Japan Times absorbed other English-language newspapers in Japan, bringing together the country’s English dailies. Thereafter, in each chapter of Japan’s postwar history ― from the Occupation, through the miraculous economic recovery and on to today ― The Japan Times continued to report on domestic affairs and global events, a mission that it has proudly fulfilled as Japan’s sole independent English-language newspaper.
THE JAPAN TIMES RECORDS VARIOUS HISTORIC EVENTS
Commemorative issue of the enthronement of the Taisho Emperor (Sept. 15, 1915)
This looks at the differences in methods of ascension between Japan and the West, their royal households and enthronement.
Message from Japan to America (Oct. 1, 1924)
A special issue was published to promote mutual understanding with the U.S. during a time of political tensions, due to the country's policy of restricting Japanese immigration
Outbreak of the Pacific War (Dec. 8, 1941)
To capture the major significance of this event in a proper headline typeface, the JT editor-in-charge at the time resorted to a wooden typeface used for advertising. This typeface, which only had 1 block per character and, as such, letters could not be used twice, resulted in this historic headline.
MacArthur Special (Aug. 3, 1946)
Following the war's end and during the Occupation, the coverage of Gen. Douglas MacArthur words and actions increased
Suicide of novelist Yukio Mishima (Nov. 26, 1970)
Yukio Mishima, an internationally renowned author, called on 1,000 members of the SDF to join him in an uprising to revise the Japanese constitution. Failing in his mission, he shocked the nation by committing suicide on the roof of the Eastern headquarters of the Self-Defense Forces.
Obama visits Hiroshima (May 28, 2016)
Barack Obama made history as the first sitting American president to visit Hiroshima.
Onoe Kikugoro VI (Dec. 27, 1931)
In a special photo issue published in December 1931, a full-page photo is carried of the kabuki actor, the Onoe Kikugoro VI.
Interview with Yayoi Kusama (March 7, 2004)
Many now-famous Japanese artists have gained recognition in Japan after attracting overseas attention. Yayoi Kusama is one such artist.
Extra on the Great Kanto Earthquake (September 7, 1923)
Special Edition on the Great East Japan Earthquake (March 13, 2011)
Unrealized 1940 Tokyo Summer OIympics (Sept. 12, 1936)
The 1940 Summer Olympics were originally scheduled to be held in Tokyo, but they were canceled after the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese war. It would not be until 24 years later that the Olympics were held in Tokyo.
