Japanese History Bibliographies (Subject Bibliography) Published in the Japanese Language

updated on July 27th, 2023
by Humanities Room

This webpage introduces search tools (subject bibliographies) chiefly in the Japanese language available mainly in the Tokyo Main Library Humanities Room to find reference resources (books, journal articles, etc.) related to Japanese history.

To search for journal articles, please refer to Article Index of Periodicals in Japanese.

Numbers shown in brackets 【】 indicate the NDL call number for an item.

The [Range] field indicates the range of years during which the material of interest was cataloged and material format.

1. Searching Basic Literature

The following bibliographies are useful for searching for basic literature related to a particular era or theme.

Hideo Kuroda [et al.], ed.,"Nihonshi bunken jiten" (Encyclopedia of basic books in Japanese history research) (Kobundo 2003 【GB1-H14】)
[Range] Chiefly books. Some articles published in books and journals
[Order] Author name in Japanese alphabetical order
[Index] Book/Article title index, subject/item index, name index, foreign language index
[Notes] The back of the book includes a detailed listing of the contents of collected works and writings (in Japanese alphabetical order of author name), and a detailed listing of the contents of book series (in order of publication year).
"Tenbo nihon rekishi" (A survey of Japanese history) vol.2-6, 8-24 (Tokyodo Shuppan 2000- 【GB71-G78 et al.】)
[Range] Articles published in books and journals
[Notes] Includes the main text and explanations of the importance of each research article. Bibliographies of literature for relevant eras and themes are included in the back of each volume.

In addition to introducing research trends, the dictionaries below list significant literature at the back of each item.

TakeshiAbe[et al.], ed.,"Nihon kodaishi kenkyu jiten" (A dictionary of research on ancient Japanese history) (Tokyodo Shuppan 1995 【GB161-G26】)
[Range] Books, articles published in books and journals
[Index] None
Makoto Takemitsu, "Kodaishi nyumon handobukku" (A handbook introducing ancient Japanese history) (2nd edition Yuzankaku Shuppan 1997 【GB161-G92】)
[Range] Books, articles published in books and journals
[Index] None
Kazuhiko Sato [et al.], ed.,"Nihon chuseishi kenkyu jiten" (A research dictionary of medieval Japanese history) (Tokyodo Shuppan 1995 【GB211-E96】)
[Range] Books, articles published in books and journals
[Index] None
Tadashi Murakami [et al.], ed.,"Nihon kinseishi kenkyu jiten" (A research dictionary of early modern Japanese history) (Tokyodo Shuppan 1989 【GB36-E4】)
[Range] Books, articles published in books and journals
[Index] Keywords
Kota Kodama [et al.], ed., "Kinseishi handobukku" (A handbook of early modern Japanese history) (Kondo Shuppansha 1972 【GB8-22】)
[Range] Books, articles published in books and journals
[Index] Keywords
Yasushi Toriumi, Masahito Matsuo, Hidemasa Kokaze, ed.,"Nihon kingendaishi kenkyu jiten" (A dictionary of modern and current Japanese history research) (Tokyodo Shuppan 1999 【GB411-G93】)
[Range] Books, articles published in books and journals
[Index] None
Shigemitsu Kimura, supervisor; Rekishi Kagaku Kyogikai, ed., "Sengo rekishigaku yogo jiten" (Dictionary of postwar historical science terminology) (Tokyodo Shuppan 2012 【GB8-J55】)
[Range] Books, articles published in books and journals
[Index] None

2. Searching Research Trends

Bibliographies and reviews of the research literature printed in history journals are useful for investigating newly published literature and research trends. Here are a few typical bibliographies.

"Shigaku zasshi" (Journal of historical science) (Shigakkai monthly)
*As for the NDL's holdings, the issues from 1889 to 1964 are on microfilm, 【YA-20】; issues from 1965 and after are available in paper form 【Z8-321】.

・Shigaku bunken mokuroku : Nihonshi' (Historical science bibliography: Japanese history) (1960 (volume 69, number 7)-present annual the March (3), April (4), July (7), August (8), November (11), and December (12) issues)
[Range] 1960-present. Books, articles published in books and journals
[Order] Varies by content
[Index] None
[Notes] In recent years, the March (3), August (8), November (11), and December (12) issues have come to focus on research articles; the April (4) issue to focus on books, and the July (7) issue to focus on local history-related books.

・' XXXX nen no rekishi gakkai ： kaiko to tenbo' (Historical science of the previous year: review and perspective) (1950 (volume 59, number 5)-present annual May (5) issue) *For the year 1970, June (6) issue (volume 79, number 6) includes the content.
[Range] 1949-present. Books, articles published in books and journals
[Index] None
[Notes] Major literature are presented among the overview of research trends from the previous year. The ' 1948 nen no rekishi gakkai' (Historical science of 1948) was printed in volume 58, number 1 (1949) before it could be established as a special issue. Contents were reprinted in the form of the "Nihon rekishi gakkai no kaiko to tenbo" (Historical science in Japan: review and perspective) described below from 1949 until 1985 once they had been resorted and reorganized by topics such as region and era, etc.

Shigakkai, ed., "Nihon rekishi gakkai no kaiko to tenb o" (Historical science in Japan: review and perspective) 25 volumes (Yamakawa Shuppansha　1987-1988　【GA32-50】)　
Volume 1: Introduction and historical theory. 1949-1985
Volume 2: Japanese prehistory. Part 1. 1949-1972
Volume 3: Japanese prehistory. Part 2. 1973-1985
Volume 4: Ancient Japan. Part 1. 1949-1970
Volume 5: Ancient Japan. Part 2. 1971-1985
Volume 6: Medieval Japan. Part 1. 1949-1971
Volume 7: Medieval Japan. Part 2. 1972-1985
Volume 8: Early modern Japan. Part 1. 1949-1971
Volume 9: Early modern Japan. Part 2. 1972-1985
Volume 10: Modern Japan. Part 1. 1949-1970
Volume 11: Modern Japan. Part 2. 1971-1985
Nihon Rekishi Gakkai, ed., "Nihon rekishi" (Japanese history) (Yoshikawa Kobunkan　monthly　【Z8-255】)

・[Japanese history related] 'Zasshi ronbun mokuroku ' (Journal article catalog) (April 1955-present) published in each issue
[Range] Research papers published in journals (collected research articles such as historical research association/research organization newsletters, university/institutional bulletins, etc.)
[Order] Varies by content
[Index] None

Recent research papers have also been put together in the following bibliographies.

"Rekishigaku kiyo ronbun soran" (Compendium of research papers in historical science bulletins) (Nichigai Associates　2007　【G1-H7】)
[Range] Respective initial year of publication for each bulletin-2006
[Order] University name in Japanese alphabetical order> Bulletin title in Japanese alphabetical order> Publication year
[Index] Author name index, collected journal title index
[Notes] Collection of detailed contents from university bulletins
"Nihonshi tosho mokuroku" (Catalog of Japanese history books) (Nichigai Associstes　1999-2004)
[Range] 1991-2003. Books
[Order] Era> Theme> Book title in Japanese alphabetical order
[Index] Author name index, book title index, item index

3. Searching Comprehensively

Bibliographies covering literature published more than 20-30 years ago are useful since they may bring up books and journal articles not cataloged in search services such as NDL Search or CiNii. The cumulative table of contents and general index for a particular journal may also be issued.

Rekishigaku Kenkyukai, ed.,"Rekishigaku kenkyu" (Journal of historical studies) (Aoki Shoten　monthly　【Z8-282】)
'Somokuroku/sakuin (1)-(822)'
Nihon Rekishi Gakkai, ed.,"Nihon rekishi" (Japanese history) (Yoshikawa Kobunkan　monthly　【Z8-255】)
'Nihon rekishi bessatsu somokuroku (1)-(700)'
Nihonshi Kenkyukai, ed.,"Nihonshi kenkyu" (Journal of Japanese history) (Nihonshi kenkyukai　monthly　【Z8-258】)
'Nihonshi kenkyu somokuroku (1)-(300)', 'Nihonshi kenkyu somokuroku (301)-(400)', 'Nihonshi kenkyu somokuroku (401)-(500)', 'Nihonshi kenkyu somokuroku (501)-(600)'
Shigakkai, ed., "Shigaku zasshi" (Journal of historical science) (Shigakkai　monthly　【Z8-321】)
'Shigeku zasshi s omokuroku (1)-(100)'
"Meiji Taisho Showa zenki zasshi kiji sakuin shusei. Jinbun kagaku hen. Dai 36 kan"(Composite index of Japanese magazine and journal articles from the Meiji to the early Showa periods. Humanities volume. Volume 36) (Koseisha　1997　【UP54-E16】)
[Range] 1946-1950. Books, articles published in books and journals
[Order] By era, theme, country, etc. as per the division of book or journal
[Index] Author name index
*Users can search with The Complete Database for Japanese Magazine and Periodicals from Meiji Era to the Present (Zassaku Plus) (subscription database at the NDL: in-library use only)
[Notes] This is a reproduction of Shigakkai, ed.,"Shigaku bunken mokuroku" (Bibliography of historical science) (Yamakawa Shuppansha 1951) (pp.1-219). This has been succeeded by the 'Shigaku bunken mokuroku' (Bibliography of historical science) of the "Shigaku zasshi" from 1960 on.
"Meiji Taisho Showa zenki zasshi kiji sakuin shusei. Jinbun kagaku hen" (Composite index of Japanese magazine and journal articles published from the Meiji to the early Showa periods. Humanities volumes) vol.12, 13, 14 and 15 (Koseisha　1995　【UP54-E16】)
[Range] 1929-March 1943. Books, articles published in books and journals
[Order] Theme> Journals, collected papers, and books chiefly by title in Japanese alphabetical order (1930-present)
[Index] Author name index (1932-present), complete author index for all humanities volumes (separate volume 2)
*The Complete Database for Japanese Magazine and Periodicals from Meiji Era to the Present (Zassaku Plus) (subscription database at the NDL: in-library use only)
[Notes] This is a reproduction of "Showa 4*-* 18nen no kokushi gakkai" (Japan history science of 1929-1943) (Yoyogikai et al. 1930-1945). Major bibliographies have been compiled annually between 1929-1943 in 'Showa XX nen kokushigaku kankei ronbun chosho mokuroku' (Catalog of research papers and books related to national history in the year of Showa XX). Each volume up to 1936 includes an explanation of research trends for that year.
Otsuka Shigakkai Koshi Bukai, ed., "Sogo kokusi ronbun yomoku" (A general compendium of national history research papers) (Nihon Tosho Center　1982　【GB1-64】)
[Range] Early Meiji period- April 1938. Books, articles published in books and journals.
[Order] Theme> Author name chiefly in Japanese alphabetical order
[Index] None
*Users can search with The Complete Database of Japanese Magazine and Periodicals from Meiji Era to the Present (Zassaku Plus) (subscription database at the NDL: in-library use only)
[Notes] A reproduction (published by Toko Shoin in 1939). Also compiled in "Meiji Taisho Showa zenki zasshi kiji sakuin shusei. Jinbun kagaku hen. Dai 11 kan" (Composite index of Japanese magazine and journal articles from the Meiji to the early Showa periods. Humanities volume. Volume 11) (Koseisha　1995　【UP54-E16】).
Mototsugu Kurita,"Sogo kokushi bunken kaidai" (A general bibliographical guide to Japanese history) vol.1-3 (Nihon Tosho Center　1982　【GB1-65】)
[Range] Meiji period-1934. Books
[Order] Theme/Period> General works, partial works, journals/research paper collections
[Index] Book title and author name index in volume 3
[Notes] A reproduction of Dobun Shoin's 1935-1936 edition. Volume 3 contains an annotated bibliography of historical documents.
Motoo Endo, ed., "Nihonshi kenkyusho soran" (A compendium of Japanese history studies) (Meicho Shuppan　1975　【GB1-30】)
[Range] Meiji period -1972. Books
[Order] Theme> Publication year> Bibliography included or not
[Index] Book title index, author name index
[Notes] Annotated bibliography of major studies. Some annotations indicate the article titles included in the books.
"Nihonshi kankei zasshi bunken soran"(A compendium of journal literature on Japanese history) vol.1-2 (Kokusho Kankokai　1984　【GB1-79】)
[Range] Early Meiji period-1981. Journal articles
[Order] By journal in Japanese alphabetical order
[Index] Author name index in volume 2
[Notes] Collection of journal tables of contents
"Nihonshi tsushi tosho mokuroku" (Catalog of comprehensive Japanese history books) (Nichigai Associates　1994　【GB1-E54】)
[Range] 1945-1990. Books
[Order] Theme> Publication date
[Index] Author name index, title index, item index
[Notes] Books that deal with Japanese history comprehensively and books that deal with history in a variety of subject fields without confining themselves to particular historical periods

4. Searching by Era

Tadashi Saito, ed., "Nihon kofun bunka shiryo soran: meiji shonen-showa 26 nen" (Comprehensive bibliography of Japanese kofun culture materials: early Meiji period-1951) (Rinsen Shoten　1982　【GB1-70】)
[Range] Chiefly 1868-1951. Books, articles published in books and journals
[Organization] Part 1 'Bibliographies', Part 2 'Geographical name list of major archaeological sites', Part 3 'Table list of major artifacts'
[Order] Part 1: theme, Part 2 and 3: type of archaeological site and artifact> Region
[Index] Author name index included in Part 1
[Notes] Part 2 and 3 take up and classify the major archaeological sites and artifacts in the bibliographies collected in Part 1. Bibliographies can be searched from archaeological site and excavation site.
Tadashi Saito, ed., "Zoku nihon kofun bunka shiryo soran: showa 30nen-showa 55nen" (Continued comprehensive bibliography of Japanese kofun culture materials: 1955-1980) vol.1 (bunken-hen (bibliography volume)), 2 (iseki-hen (archaeological sites volume)) (Rinsen Shoten　1985-1988　【GB1-89】)
[Range] Chiefly 1955-1980. Books, articles published in books and journals
[Organization] 'Bibliography volume' (Part 1: bibliography), 'Archaeological sites volume' (Part 2: 'Geographical name list of major archaeological sites')
[Order] 'Bibliography volume': theme, 'Archaeological sites volume': region
[Index] Author name index in the 'Bibliography volume'
[Notes] This is a follow-up volume to the "Nihon kofun bunka shiryo soran: meiji shonen-showa 26nen"(Comprehensive bibliography of Japanese kofun culture materials: early Meiji period-1951) above. The bibliographies from 1980-March 1988 that were not included in the 'Bibliography volume' have been included for perusal at the end of the 'Archaeological sites volume'.
Tadashi Saito, "Nihon kokogaku bunken soran" (A compendium of Japanese archaeology bibliographies) (Gakuseisha　1997　【GB1-G28】)
[Range] Early modern-present. Books
[Order] Modern and contemporary, early modern> Theme
[Index] Bibliography index, name (entity) index
[Notes] Annotations and partial modern language translations (some early modern materials) have been provided. Includes a bibliography guide.
Koji Hirata, ed., "Kodai nihon kenkyu bunken sogo mokuroku: Meiji gannen (1868)-Heisei 10nen (1998) 3gatsu" (General catalog of ancient Japan research bibliographies: 1868-March 1998) vol.1, 2 (Bensei Shuppan　1998　【GB1-G43】)
[Range] 1868-March 1998. Books, articles published in books and journals
[Order] Document type> Author name in Japanese alphabetical order, book title, etc.
[Index] None
[Notes] Includes a research bibliographies from a variety of academic fields on the formation of Yayoi culture up to the fall of the Taira government.
"Nihon kodaishi tosho soran. Meiji-Heisei"(A compendium of books on Japanese ancient history. Appeared from the Meiji to the Heisei periods) (Nichigai Associates　2008　【GB1-J5】)
[Range] 1868-2007. Books
[Order] Theme> Book title in Japanese alphabetical order
[Index] Author name index, item index
[Notes] Bibliographies have been collected up to the opening of the Kamakura Bakufu (government).
"Nihon Chuseishi tosho soran .Meiji-Heisei" (A compendium of books on Japanese medieval history. Appeared from the Meiji to the Heisei periods) (Nichigai Associates　2008　【GB1-J13】)
[Range] 1868-2007. Books
[Order] Theme> Book title in Japanese alphabetical order
[Index] Author name index, item index
[Notes] Bibliographies have been collected dealing with the opening of the Kamakura Bakufu until the opening of the Edo Bakufu.
"Nihon kinseishi tosho soran. Meiji-Heisei" (A compendium of books on Japanese modern history. Appeared from the Meiji to the Heisei periods) (Nichigai Associates　2009　【GB1-J15】)
[Range] 1868-2007. Books
[Order] Theme> Book title in Japanese alphabetical order
[Index] Author name index, item index
Rekishigaku Kenkyukai, ed., "Meiji ishinshi kenkyu koza . Dai 6 kan: Meiji ishinshi shiryo, bunken mokuroku, meiji ishinshi kenkyu koza sosakuin"(Meiji Restoration historical research course. Volume 6: Meiji Restoration historical documents and bibliography, Meiji Restoration historical research course general index) (Heibonsha　1959　【210.61-R18m】)
[Range] Meiji period-1958. Books, articles published in books and journals
[Order] Theme> Publication year
[Index] None
[Notes] The 'Meiji ishinshi shiryo, bunken mokuroku' (Meiji Restoration historical documents and bibliography) (pp.1-266) includes bibliographies and documents from a variety of academic fields primarily focusing on the Tempo era (1830-1844) up to the promulgation of the Constitution of the Empire of Japan (1889). Some annotations have been included.
Rekishigaku Kenkyukai,ed., "Meiji ishinshi kenkyu koza. Bekkan" (Meiji Restoration historical research course. Supplement) (Heibonsha　1969　【210.61-R18m】)
[Range] Chiefly 1959-1968 (*regional history: 1955-present). Books, articles published in books and journals
[Order] Theme> Publication year> Author or editor name in Japanese alphabetical order (some may vary)
[Index] None
[Notes] The 'Zoho: Meiji ishinshi shiryo, bunken mokuroku' (Supplement: Meiji Restoration historical documents and bibliography) is included in pp.89-229.
Yoshio Saji, ed., "Nihon kin gen daishi bunken kaidai" (A bibliographical guide to early modern and modern Japanese history) (Munetaka Shobo　1979　【GB1-50】)
[Order] Theme> Chiefly publication date
[Index] Book title index
"Nihon kindaishi tosho mokuroku" (Catalog of modern Japanese history books) (Nichigai Associates　1994　【GB1-E51】)
[Range] 1945-1990. Books
[Order] Theme> Publication date
[Index] Author name index, book title index, item index

5. Searching by Theme

The following tools are available for searching literature by theme:

Hoseishi Gakkai, ed.,"Hoseishi bunken mokuroku" (Bibliography of Japanese legal history) vol.1, 2 and 3 (Sobunsha et al.　1983-1997　【A111-134】)
[Range] August 15, 1945-1989. Books, articles published in books and journals
[Order] Theme> Author name or book title in Japanese alphabetical order
[Index] Personal name index
[Notes] Users can search literature since 1980 with the Hoseishi Bunken Mokuroku(Bibliography of Japanese Legal History) (1980-present)
"Keizaishi Bunken" Kaidai Detabesu (Economic History Bibliography Database) (Institute for Research in Economic History of Japan, Osaka University of Economics)
[Range] Books, articles published in journals
[Notes] Includes Western and Oriental history in addition to Japanese history. Annotated author and article bibliographic database covering a wide range of fields mainly focused on economic and business history.
Yasunao Nakada, Hirokazu Shimizu, ed., "Kinsei nihon taigai kankei bunken mokuroku" (A bibliography of early modern Japanese foreign relations) (Tosui Shobo　1999　【GB1-G47】)
[Range] 1868-1993. Chiefly books and articles published in books and journals
[Order] Subject volume: By theme> Order of publication year; Personal name volume: Personal names listed in Japanese alphabetical order> Order of publication year; Place name volume: Place names listed in Japanese alphabetical order> Order of publication year
[Index] Editor/Author name index
[Notes] A few bibliographies related to the Sengoku period, the Meiji Restoration period, and foreign relations have also been collected. Includes a 'Supplemental foreign language bibliography (by author)' (Written in Roman and Chinese characters).
Kyoto Gaikokugo Daigaku Fuzoku Toshokan,ed., "Taigai koshoshi bunken mokuroku. Kinsei hen" (A bibliography of the history of Japanese foreign relations. Early modern volume) (Yushodo Shoten　1977　【GB1-47】)
[Range] 1868-1975. Books, articles published in books and journals, newspaper articles, etc.
[Order] Author or translator name in alphabetical order> Order of publication year
[Index] Major headline index
[Notes] Collected bibliography of the history of domestic and foreign relations between Europe and Japan, Christianity in Japan, and Western learning in Japan from the late Sengoku period to the end of Edo period and the opening of Japan.
Toshokan Ryutsu Center Dai 2 Kikaku Henshushitsu, ed., "Nihon jibutsu rekishi kankei tosho soran" (Compendium of books related to the history of things Japanese) (Toshokan Ryutsu Center　2003　【GB1-H20】)
[Range] 1991-2002. Books about cultural and social history
[Index] Author name index, keyword index

6. Regional History

Please refer to Japanese Regional History Bibliographies (Subject Bibliography) Published in the Japanese Language.