A-Z Japanese Language Databases 日本語データベース

SOAS Library

A-Z Japanese Language Databases 日本語データベース

This page lists the Japanese language databases available at SOAS; for other databases use the letter navigation on the left or go to the A-Z database homepage .

On-campus access is automatic for most databases; and many can be accessed off-campus using your SOAS id and password (the same as you use for SOAS e-mail and computers). Off-campus access is only available to SOAS students and staff; and is available only where there is a link for 'off-campus use'.

If you need help with any of the databases you can:

  • Ask at the Library Enquiry Desk (Ground floor room E10/Level E), Monday to Friday 10am-4pm.
  • E-mail electronic@soas.ac.uk
  • Phone 020 7898 4163/4141
Title Description Links
Asahi Shimbun Cross-Search (朝日新聞クロスサーチ)
"KIKUZOU II Visual" is renewed as "Asahi Shimbun Cross-Search." It is the largest newspaper article database in Japan. This database contains full-text articles from the Asahi Shimbun ( 朝日新聞, since 1945), AERA weekly magazine (since 1988), Shukan Asahi weekly magazine, an annual new-word dictionary Chiezō, Who’s Who Database, and Historical Photo Archive.
Asahi Shimbun Cross-Search (朝日新聞クロスサーチ)
URL

On-campus: https://xsearch.asahi. com/
Off-campus: https://ezproxy.soas.ac.uk/login?url=http://database.asahi.com/

Access

Any Library user from computers on-campus. SOAS students and staff only from computers off-campus. Limited access for 3 users at a time among 5 consortium member libraries.

Authentication

Available to all Library users on-campus. Off-campus access available to SOAS staff and students, using their SOAS id and password.

Full-text or bibliographic

Full-text in Japanese

Description

A newspaper database for Asahi Shinbun, containing three weekly magazines, Aera, Asahi Gurafu, and Shūkan Asahi, and an annual new-word dictionary Chiezō, Who’s Who Database, and Historical Photo Archive are also available.

Dates covered

朝日新聞 (Asahi Shinbun): August 1984 to the present date
朝日新聞縮刷版 (Asahi Shinbun Shukusatsuban) = Asahi Shimbun Compressed Edition:  1879~1984
アエラ(Aera): August 1984 to the present date
アサヒグラフ  (Asahi Gurafu): 1923 to 1956
週刊朝日(Shukan Asahi): August 1984 to the present date
知恵蔵: The latest edition
歴史写真: 1930s to 1945

Download/e-mail/print/reference software

Download/print available

 On-campus use

Off-campus use
Bungei Shunju Archives 文藝春秋アーカイブズ
 Bungei Shunjū is regarded as one of the most popular and influential literary magazines in Japan. This Archives provide full-texts of 323 issues between January 1, 1923 (Taisho 12) to December 1, 1950 (Showa 25). Around 90,000 pages of essays, fiction, and articles by over 4,000 authors and contributors are available. You can search headlines in article titles, publication, year and month, author and the body of articles. On-campus use

Off-campus use
CiNii [サイニィ] = NII論文情報ナビゲータ
Provides bibliographical citations of Japanese scholarly journals published in Japan with over 15 million bibliographic records including approx. 4 million full-texts. User guide via this link http://ci.nii.ac.jp/info/ja/articles/quickguide.html
CiNii [サイニィ] = NII論文情報ナビゲータ
URL On-campus:

http://ci.nii.ac.jp/

URL Off-campus:

https://ezproxy.soas.ac.uk/login?url=http://http://ci.nii.ac.jp/

Access:

unlimited.

Authentication:

Available to all Library users on-campus and SOAS staff & students off-campus.

Username and password:

SOAS id and password required for off-campus use - SOAS staff & students only.

Full-text or bibliographic:

Over 15 million bibliographic records including approx. 4 million full-texts

Description:

Provides bibliographical citations of Japanese scholarly journals published in Japan. Covers full range of disciplines. Contains non-Japanese articles.

User guide:

http://ci.nii.ac.jp/info/ja/articles/quickguide.html

Download/email/print /reference software:

Download (PDF)/print

 On-campus use

Off-campus use
Collection of Handwritten Materials by Japanese Modern Literary Writers - 近代文学作家自筆資料集
 This database contains about 480 handwritten materials by more than 60 writers who have led the modern Japanese literature, such as Kyoshi Takahama, Soseki Natsume, Ogai Mori, Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Shiki Masaoka, Haruo Sato, and Takashi Nagatsuka. The original materials are held by Kyoshi Memorial Museum. The database also includes handwritten letters, postcards, illustrations and the final chapter of Soseki Natsume's "I Am a Cat" It is a valuable historical material that allows users to see the lively modern Japanese literary scene On-campus use

Off-campus use
Diaolong Full-text Database of Chinese & Japanese Ancient Books 雕龍: 中日古籍全文資料庫
 Provides full-text access to a number of collections of pre-modern writings, including the Daozang 道藏, Daozang jiyao 道藏輯要, Sibu congkan 四部叢刊, Xu sibu congkan 續四部叢刊, Yongle dadian 永樂大典, and Siku quanshu 四庫全書. On-campus use

Off-campus use
Gunsho Ruiju 群書類従 (Classified Collection of Japanese Classics)
A collection of Japanese literary classics and historical records dating from the late 9th century to the beginning of the Edo period (1600−1868). Subjects include art, geography, history, law, literature, music, politics, religion, and sociology.
Gunsho Ruiju 群書類従 (Classified Collection of Japanese Classics)
URL

On-campus: http://japanknowledge.com/lib/search/gunshoruiju/

Off-campus: https://ezproxy.soas.ac.uk/login?url=http://japanknowledge.com/lib/search/gunshoruiju/

Also accessible through JapanKnowledge Library

On-campus: http://japanknowledge.com/library/

Off-campus: https://ezproxy.soas.ac.uk/login?url=http://japanknowledge.com/library/

Access

Available to all Library users on-campus. Off-campus access available to SOAS staff and students, using their SOAS id and password. Limited access for 7 users at a time among 8 consortium member libraries.

Full-text or bibliographic

Full-text

Description
  • The Web version of群書類従, 続群書類従, and 続々群書類従 (Gunsho Ruiju, Zoku Gunsho Ruiju, and Zoku-zoku Gunsho Ruiju), which is based on 133 volumes of publications by続群書類従完成会 (Zoku Gunsho Ruiju Kanseikai).
  • A collection of Japanese literary classics and historical records dating from the late 9th century to the beginning of the Edo period (1600−1868). Subjects include art, geography, history, law, literature, music, politics, religion, and sociology.
  • Keyword search is available.

 

Download/e-mail/print/reference software

Download/print available

 On-campus use

Off-campus use
JapanKnowledge Lib (ジャパンナレッジ Lib)
A selection of major dictionaries and encyclopaedias, as well as databases for weekly journals and books etc. SOAS has access to the JapanKnowledge +NK.
JapanKnowledge Lib (ジャパンナレッジ Lib)
URL

On-campus: https://japanknowledge.com/library/
Off-campus: https://ezproxy.soas.ac.uk/login?url=http://japanknowledge.com/library/

Access

Available to all Library users on-campus. Off-campus access available to SOAS staff and students, using their SOAS id and password. Limited access for 6 users at a time among 8 consortium member libraries.

Full-text or bibliographic

Full-text

Description

A selection of major dictionaries and encyclopaedias, as well as databases for weekly journals and books etc.

SOAS has access to the JapanKnowledge +NK, which includes:

[Encyclopedias]

  • Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan
  • 日本大百科全書 [ニッポニカ] (Complete Japanese Encyclopedia [Encyclopedia Nipponica 2001])
  • 日本人名大辞典 (The Biographical Dictionary of Japan)
  • 現代用語の基礎知識 (Encyclopedia of Contemporary Words)
  • 情報・知識 Imidas (Innovative Multi-Information Dictionary)


[Dictionaries]

  • 日本国語大辞典 (Shogakukan Unabridged Dictionary of the Japanese Language)
  • 字通 (Jitsu / Great Dictionary of Chinese Characters)
  • デジタル大辞泉 (Digital Dai-ji-sen Japanese Dictionary)


[Books]

  • 東洋文庫 (Toyo Bunko / The Oriental Library Series)
  • 新編日本古典文学全集[小学館版](Shogakukan Japanese Classical Literature)
  • 江戸名所図会 (Famous Place in Edo)
  • 誰でも読める日本史年表：古代/中世 (A User-Friendly Timeline of Japanese History with Furigana)


[Articles, etc.]

  • 週刊エコノミスト (Weekly Economist)
  • 会社四季報 (Japanese company Handbook)
  • JK Who’s Who
  • NNA：アジア＆EU国際情報 (NNA Global Business News from Asia and Europe)


*SOAS does not have access to 日本歴史地名大系 (Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei).

Dates covered

Latest editions only of serial publications: 現代用語の基礎知識, Imidcas, 週刊エコノミスト and 会社四季報.

Download/e-mail/print/reference software

Download/print available

 On-campus use

Off-campus use
The Japan Times Archives
An archive database of The Japan Times from March 1897 to December 2017.
The Japan Times Archives

An archive database of The Japan Times from March 1897 to December 2014. The Japan Times is an English daily newspaper from Japan formerly called The Japan Times and Mail (1918–1940),The Japan Times and Advertiser (1940–1943) , Nippon Times (1943–1956) , and The Japan Times from 1956. The contents is updated every summer. The latest contents are available from another database, The Japan Times Online.

 

 On-campus use

Off-campus use
The Japan Times Online
 The web version of The Japan Times covers 1999 to present. On-campus use

Off-campus use
Maisaku 毎索
毎日新聞 (Mainichi Shinbun - The oldest Japanese newspaper covering 1872 to present). The Mainichi (English newspaper archives covering June 2008 to present)
Maisaku 毎索

URL

On-campus: http://mainichi.jp/contents/edu/maisaku/login.html

Off-campus: https://ezproxy.soas.ac.uk/login?url=https://dbs.g-search.or.jp/WMAI/WMAI_ipcu_login.html

Access
Any Library user from computers on-campus. One simultaneous access only.

Authentication
Available to all Library users on-campus.

Full-text or bibliographic
Full-text in Japanese and English.

Description
毎日新聞 (Mainichi Shinbun - The oldest Japanese newspaper covering 1872 to present)
週刊エコノミスト (Shukan Ekonomisuto - Full text available from 1989 to present)
The Mainichi (English newspaper archives covering June 2008 to present)
毎日ヨロンサーチ (Japanese public opinion database covering October 1945-June 2016)
20世紀2001大事件 (Chronological tables of Japanese history in the 20th century arranged by topics and decade)

Dates covered
毎日新聞 (Japanese): March 1872 to the present.
The Mainichi (English): June1989 to the present.

Download/e-mail/print/reference software
Download/e-mail not available
Print available
Adobe Flash Player version 9 or later version

 On-campus use

Off-campus use
Meiji Japan
 A collection of manuscripts for the study of Meiji society, culture, ethnology and education from the papers of Edward Sylvester Morse (1838-1925). Edward Morse was one of the first American to live in Japan teaching science at the Imperial University of Tokyo. Morse made notes on subjects as diverse as shop signs, fireworks, hairpins, agricultural tools, artists’ studios, music, games, printing, carpentry, the Ainu, gardens, household construction, art and architecture . The collection includes correspondence, diaries, scrapbooks, archaeology field work and publications. On-campus use

Off-campus use
Nikkei Telecom 21
Japanese news and business information, containing Nihon Keizai Shinbun (日本経済新聞) since 1876, company profiles and financial information, and personnel information. Nikkei English News and Nikkei Asian Review from [スペシャルコンテンツ].
Nikkei Telecom 21
URL

On-campus: http://www.nikkeieu.com/telecom/en/soas.html
Off-campus: https://ezproxy.soas.ac.uk/login?url=http://t21ipau.nikkei.co.jp/ipauth/auth/auth?sid=1

Access:

Any Library user from computers on-campus. SOAS students and staff only from computers off-campus. Access for one user only at a time. 6 pm JST to 5 am JST (23 hours a day)

Authentication

Available to all Library users on-campus. Off-campus access available to SOAS staff and students, using their SOAS ID and password.

Username and password:

Not required.

Full-text or bibliographic:

Full-text.

Description:

Nikkei Telecom21 (Academic Package) is a group of comprehensive business database services offered by Nihon Keizai Shimbun.

The service consists of:

  • News: Real-Time Nikkei newswire service (Japanese and English)
  • Full Text Article Search: Nikkei’s 4 main newspapers and news (Japanese and English)
  • Market & Economic Indicators: Stock Indices, exchange rates, bond pricing and other economic indicators (Japanese)
  • Company Search: Company profiles and financial information (Japanese)
  • Who’s Who Search: Personnel information in business (Japanese)
Dates covered:

Nikkei Japanese news from 1876 to1961 and from 1975 to date. Nikkei English news from 1983 to date.

Download/email/print /reference software:

Print is available.

 On-campus use

Off-campus use
Taiyō 太陽
 Taiyo is considered indispensable for the study of Japan's modern period. It was a comprehensive magazine published by Hakubunkan from January 1895 to February 1928 (a total of 34 volumes, 531 issues). It was Japan's first general interest popular magazine which offered political, military, economic and social commentary, especially known for its literary criticism, Japanese literature, and translation of Western authors. On-campus use

Off-campus use
Yomidasu Rekishikan  ヨミダス歴史館
Full text database of Yomiuri Shinbun (読売新聞) from the first issue in 1874 to the present. Includes the English edition, The Daily Yomiuri, and biographical information on some 2,000 people.
Yomidasu Rekishikan  ヨミダス歴史館

URL:

On-campus - https://database.yomiuri.co.jp/rekishikan/
Off-campus - https://ezproxy.soas.ac.uk/login?url=https://database.yomiuri.co.jp/rekishikan/

Access

Any Library user from computers on-campus. One simultaneous access only.

Authentication

Available to all Library users on-campus.

Full-text or bibliographic

Full-text in Japanese and English.

Description

Full text database of Yomiuri Shinbun (読売新聞) from the first issue in 1874 to the present. Includes the English edition, The Daily Yomiuri, and biographical information on some 2,000 people.

Dates covered

読売新聞 (Japanese): From the first issue in November 1874 to the present, with local editions starting in Dec. 1986.

The Daily Yomiuri (English): September 1989 to the present.

Download/e-mail/print/reference software

Download/e-mail not available

Print available

Adobe Flash Player version 9 or later version

 On-campus use

Off-campus use
Zassaku Plus = 雑誌記事索引集成データベース
Index database for Japanese magazine and periodicals from the Meiji Era to the Present.
Zassaku Plus = 雑誌記事索引集成データベース

URL On-campus: http://zassaku-plus.com/

URL Off-campus: https://ezproxy.soas.ac.uk/login?url=http://zassaku-plus.com/

Access:

One user only at a time

Authentication:

Available to all Library users on-campus and SOAS staff & students off-campus.

Username and password:

SOAS id and password required for off-campus use - SOAS staff & students only.

Full-text or bibliographic:

Bibliographic

Description:

Index database for Japanese magazine and periodicals from the Meiji Era to the Present.

Download/email/print /reference software:

Print  (by using right click of a mouse)
Copy and paste

 On-campus use

Off-campus use