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Nihon Keizaishi Kenkyusho
■Institute for Research in Economic History of Japan
The Nihon Keizaishi Kenkyusho [Institute for Research in Economic History of Japan] places great value a global perspective 'Japan in the world' and 'Japan in Asia'. The objectives of our Institute are to contribute to advancing research on economic history and to strengthen the connection between economic history research and society. We achieve them by collecting useful historical materials, offering a wealth of valuable academic information, and hosting open lectures and other events.
History
Collecting Historical Materials
History
The Nihon Keizaishi Kenkyusho traces its roots back to Professor Eijiro Honjo' s seminar on the Economic History of Japan, which started in 1926 within the Department of Economics at Kyoto Imperial University. In July 1929, the Keizaishi Kenkyukai [Society for the Study of Economic History] was established, and later that year, in November, it published the inaugural edition of its monthly journal, Keizaishi Kenkyu [Study of Economic History].
Drs. Eijiro Honjo and lwao Kokusho, professors at Kyoto Imperial University, played pivotal roles as chief promoters of the Society. In December 1932, Dr. Kokusho took the initiative to establish the Institute, funding it personally. He purchased land adjacent to Kyoto Imperial University and had the building constructed. The Institute was officially inaugurated on 15 May 1933 and began its research activities. Honjo assumed the position of representative director, with Kokusho, Naokatsu Nakamura, and Wataro Kanno serving as the other directors at that time.
The Institute engaged in a diverse array of academic pursuits, such as publishing the journal Keizaishi Kenkyu [Study of Economic History] and compiling the Nihon Keizaishi Jiten [Dictionary of the Economic History of Japan]. However, with the escalation of the Second World War, the Institute faced challenges, making it increasingly difficult to sustain its activities. As a result. the publication of Keizaishi Kenkyu journal was halted in January 1945.
Following the war, the Institute was relocated to Osaka University of Economics, where it resumed its activities and continued its research and publications. Owing to the efforts of many pioneers, the Institute celebrated its ninetieth anniversary in 2023.
Collecting Historical Materials
The Institute places significant importance on collecting, organizing and preserving historical materials, including books, periodicals, and manuscripts. We strive to acquire the latest publication information and trends in the rare book market and actively seek material contributions. The Institute' s collection comprises approximately 37,000 books and 720 titles of periodicals. Although the majority of the collection is in Japanese and published after the mid-19th century, it also includes a significant number of materials in European and Asian languages. In addition to economic history, the collection encompasses social, political, and cultural histories.
The Institute also possesses many historical documents and manuscripts, including the following two collections.
1. The documents of the Nakajima family(1630-1904) are valuable records of early modern economic history. The Nakajima family were involved in the draper business in Kyoto and their shop was named Zeniya.
2. The documents of lnokuchiya(1723-1843), an agent providing express messenger services, are rare records of communication history during the early modern era. These documents were transcribed and published by Tadashi Watanabe and Mitsutoshi Tokunaga(eds.) as Hikyakudonya lnokuchiya Kiroku [The Documents of lnokuchiya, An Express Messenger Agent], 4 volumes, 2001-2004 and were designated as one of the Important Cultural Properties by the Japanese government in 2024.
Bibliographic Database of Economic History
Keizaishi Bunken Kaidai [The Bibliography of Economic History] has been published since 1933 when our institute was officially established in Kyoto, with the exception of a few years during and immediately after the Second World War. This publication is not just a bibliography; it includes brief explanatory notes on the content of each book and article. It covers topics such as economic and business history, political history, and the history of thought.
In 2003, we began developing the Bibliographic Database of Economic History, which was selected as one of the Open Research Center Project by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. This database includes data from 1936 to the present and can be accessed via our website. Additionally, in 2004, we launched an English version of this database covering research conducted in East Asian countries such as Korea, China and Taiwan, and in 2007, we expanded it to include research from the U.S. and U.K.
Research Events
At this Institute, we hold Keizaishi Kenkyukai [Economic History Research Seminars] four times a year. During these research seminars, leading scholars present their findings on socioeconomic history, followed by open discussions among attendees. Additionally, academic symposiums are held on an irregular basis. At these seminars and symposiums, we strive to facilitate exchange with researchers from abroad as much as possible.
Open Lectures (the Kokusho School)
The Kokusho School is a series of open lectures named after Dr. lwao Kokusho, one of the founders of the Institute and the first president of Osaka University of Economics. These lectures, held several times a year, feature historians discussing various historical topics.
Publications
The Institute published Keizaishi Bunken Kaidai [The Bibliography of Economic History] annually until 2004.
Since 2005, the data from the Bibliographic Database of Economic History has been accessible via the Institute' s website. The journal, Keizaishi Kenkyu [Study of Economic History]. is also published annually, with full-text content of all issues available in J-STAGE since 2018. Other publications include Nihon Keizaishi Bunken [Japanese Economic History Documents], a series of monographs, a collection of historical documents, commemorative volumes of historical articles, and catalogues of documents.
