Databases which contain digital data of the collections of institutions such as libraries, museums and archives are generally called "digital archives." For example, the National Diet Library Digital Collections which is provided by the National Diet Library is a digital archive.

A growing number of digital archives are making images of materials available on the Internet after they enter the public domain, and some of them do not require applying for permission to reproduce these images with the aim of publishing, televising or offering them on the Internet.

This guide introduces digital archives of libraries in Japan which do not require applying for permission for reproduction under certain conditions.

*Some databases contain images which require permission for reproduction. If changes are made to the image, they must be indicated in some cases. Please see each website for further details.

This guide does not cover all databases which allow easy secondary use.

1. National Diet Library

• Japan Search(Digital Archive Japan Promotion Committee and Practitioner Review Committee. *operated by National Diet Library)
  Policy
• National Diet Library Digital Collections
• Digital Exhibitions
• NDL Image Bank

Utilizing the contents of the website of the National Diet Library

2. Public libraries

• Osaka Municipal Library Digital Archive (Japanese)(Osaka Municipal Library)
  How to use (Japanese)

3. University libraries

• Collection(General Library of the University of Tokyo)
  Use of Digital Contents

• Chiba University Academic Resource Collections(Chiba University Library)
  Chiba University Academic Resource Collections Terms and Conditions

• Collection (Kyushu University Library)
  Reuse of digitized images of rare materials

• Kyoto University Rare Materials Digital Archive(Kyoto University Library Network)
  Guide for Content Reuse

• Digital Archive (Japanese)(Shimane University Library)
  How to use (Japanese)

4. Others

• National Archives of Japan Digital Archive(National Archives of Japan)
  Using the "Digital Archive"

• Union Catalogue Database of Japanese Texts(National Institute of Japanese Literature)
  Terms of Use (Japanese)