National Showa Memorial Museum (Showa-kan)

General Information

Japanese Name: 昭和館
Address: Showa-kan Soumubu 1-6-1 Minami Kudan Chiyoda-ku Tokyo-to 102-0074
Japanese Address: 〒102-0074　東京都千代田区九段南1-6-1　昭和館総務部
Phone Number: 03-3222-2577
Fax Number: 03-3222-2575
Online: http://www.showakan.go.jp/
Database Search:

http://www.showakan.go.jp/serch_book/top.html (Books by title/author/publisher, NOTE: the more powerful keyword search available only inside the library)
http://www.showakan.go.jp/5movie/searchmenu.html (Browse Audio/Visual Lists)

Opening Times: T-Su, 10-17:30.
Closed: Closed Mondays
Entrance Fee: 300 Yen, 150 Yen students. (Full prices at http://www.showakan.go.jp/goannnai/index.html )
Information Last Confirmed: February 11th, 2003

Directions

Take the Tôzai, Shinjuku or Hanzômon subway lines to Kudanshita (九段下) station and the library/museum is just on your right as you emerge from Exit 4. Alternatively, you can reach it in about 10 minutes walk from Iidabashi (飯田橋) station (JR or various subway lines). The museum/library is next to 九段会館 and only a short walk from Yasukuni shrine and the Yushukan museum.

Map and directions

Usage

The entrance fee is paid via two vending machines on the first floor as you enter the museum. You can also request a free "remote control" of sorts for playing an audio guide when you visit the exhibition. There is an elevator just around the corner, next to a small auditorium (the "news theater"). The building has 7 floors. The top two floors are for their regular exhibition (常設展示室) and you enter on the 7th floor and exit on the 6th.

The library is on the 4th and 5th and you are required to leave your coat, backpacks, cellphones etc. in lockers on both floors. The 4th floor is the regular library and looks like a medium sized reading room. Some reference history books line the walls but most materials must be requested. All the computers have small ticket printers attached which you can use to print out materials you want to request for viewing. You must also fill out an application form before you can request materials.

The 5th floor is the audio/visual collection and is made up of about a dozen listening stations for watching/listening to the records in their completely digitized collection. To enter this library you must fill out a little form via touch screen as you enter.

Facilities

Card Catalogs: None, all search is done via computer.
Computers: 4th floor: 4 touch screens, and 4 search booths with regular computers.
Reading Room: Yes, 4th floor.
Photocopy Machines: 1 on the 4th floor. Black and White
Photocopy Prices: 30 Yen per page
Vending Machines: 2 drink vending machines on the 1st floor, more on the 6th floor.
Bathrooms: On pretty much every floor.
Nearby Food: Mcdonalds, Pronto, AM/PM, Subway, Family Mart, Excelsor Coffee, Starbucks all across the main intersection the library is on.

Collections of Note

The library has pdf/digital images of a number of journal from the war period, including 婦人公論、中央公論、文芸春秋、and a few others. These can be viewed directly on screen, but the search functions leave something to be desired. They also have a full copy of some series of books difficult to find elsewhere available on their open shelves.

Their keyword search, available only in the library is quite impressive, and for the audio collection, can help you locate songs or recordings from the singer, writer, publisher etc.

Other Notes, Comments and Experiences

Japan Index

Showa-kan National Showa Memorial Museum