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Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Collaborative Researches
3 The COE Programs
4 Researches by the Department
5 Researches under the Grant-in-Aid
6 Individual Activities
7 Exhibitions
8 Museum Collections
9 Information Management
10 Library
11 Research Equipments
12 Public Relations
13 Publications
14 Education for Graduate Students
15 Research Exchanges (Omitted)
As an inter-university research institute, the National Museum of Japanese History (hereafter NMJH) has been engaged in various research activities aiming at an academic center for creative studies of history through interdisciplinary and international research in collaboration of history, archaeology, folklore, and related disciplines. In pursuing such goals, of particular importance among the NMJH's activities are the "research projects on priority subjects". Currently, these projects can be classified into two categories: basic researches and specific researches, and they take the form of collaborative research projects involving researchers at universities, history and folklore museums, and centers for buried cultural properties in all parts of Japan.
Basic researches take a long-term and systematic approach in addressing frontier and important topics relating to the study of history in a broader sense. In the academic year of 2001, seven such projects on four subjects were carried out. Specific researches, on the other hand, take a rudimentary or short-term approach and eight such projects on eight subjects were carried out in the academic year of 2001.
The key concepts of the four subjects in the basic research projects are: "Environment", "History of Urban Life", "Basic Beliefs", and "Scientific Analysis of Historical Materials". Of these, "History of Urban Life" and "Basic Beliefs" have completed the second stage in the academic year of 2001. The basic researches on "Environment" was newly implemented under the title "Formation of Agricultural Society and its Impact on Environment", replacing "The Environment and Human Lifestyles in Japanese History", conducted in the academic years 1995-2000. These consisted of Group A's "Problems in Agriculture in the Jomon and Yayoi Periods" and Group B's "The Variety of Systems Utilizing Environment and Worlds of Living". With regard to the basic researches on "Environment" in academic years 1995-2000, the study report (Bulletin of the NMJH) for Group B's "Disasters and Development in Japanese History I" was published.
The basic researches on "History of Urban Life" consisted of two projects, Group A's "Distribution and Consumption in Ancient and Medieval Cities" and Group B's "The Formation and Development of Regional Characteristics", which were carried out in collaboration under the title "Studies in the History of Urban Life in Japan".
Two ongoing projects in the final year of the secondstage were conducted under the title "Historical Analysis on Basic Beliefs in Local Societies" for basic researches on "Basic Beliefs". Group A's "Kami Rites: the Entombment System and the Regional Society" shed light on the actual details and process of transition of the entombment system in the Nara region in the medieval and pre-modern ages, also based on the results of research of regional community tombs in the Nara basin conducted on a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research. Group B's "The Regional Community : Various Aspects of Culture and Basic Beliefs" focused mainly on the Toso region (Chiba Prefecture) in the basin of the Tone River, taking a multi-faceted approach in gathering information and conducting research and analysis on basic beliefs during the transition from the pre-modern to modern age. The diverse topics research by OHARA Yugaku included society, economy, circulation, folklore, and belief in the neighboring regions. The basic research on "History of Urban Life" and "Basic Beliefs" were both in the third year of the second stage and the results of the research projects are currently being compiled.
The basic research on "Scientific Analysis of Historical Materials" is also in the third year of the second stage. While the first stage placed an emphasis on developing and refining research methods for analyzing historical materials, the second stage aimed to integrate the analysis methods developed in the first stage. Actual subjects approached include Middle Jomon pottery, haniwa of the Kofun (Tumulus) Period, and materials related to Nanban paintings in pre-modern times. Researchers sorted out and evaluated analysis methods used to clarify the historical facts on production and use of each of the above materials, and discussed the possibilities of general use of such methods. This basic research will be completed in the next academic year and compilation of the results in some of the research subjects has already begun.
Of the eight specific research projects carried out this year, seven projects, with the exception of the "Comprehensive Study of Regional Rangaku (the Study of Western Sciences in the Edo Era by means of the Dutch language)", began in the academic year of 2001. The "Comprehensive Study of Regional Rangaku", which was the first Open Application collaborative research project, began in 1999. As progress was made in establishing the database of Rangakusha (Rangaku scholars), the research clarified the historical development of Rangaku and its regional characteristics as well as the aspects of Rangaku spreading within the region. Of the projects that started in the academic year of 2001, "Natural Disasters in Early Modern Japan; Historical Materials in Scientific Perspective" will be completed in the same year. This was an Open Application project, corresponding to the "Exhibition" type project begun in the academic year of 2000. From the next year on, this subject will be transferred to and continued as an "Exhibition Project". It will provide a model for publicizing collaborative research, for example, the research activities of this project was introduced periodically in the NMJH's newsletter and website. "Exchanges of People, Commodities, and Technical Skills, and the System in Pre-Modern East Asia", which began last year as a "Grant-in-Aid Research" type project involves overseas research and survey trips not being included in the budget for conventional collaborative researches. Therefore, it is hoped that this collaborative research may be accepted as an international research project under the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research. It was not selected in the academic year of 2001, but with the help of some other grants from the private sector, the research is beginning to make considerable progress.
"Materials Analysis" type project involves research that aims to make better use of the NMJH's extensive collection of historical materials. Since 2001, "The Formation Process of Mizuki Collection and its Historical Significance" has been selected by open admission and is now underway.
"Floras that Migrated" and "Philological Studies in the Diversity of Shrines" are the specific research projects in a traditional sense but are also linked to exhibitions. The "Study of Problems Related to Soldiers in Modern Japan" and the "Study on Contemporary Culture in Folklore" both deal with the very contemporary subjects of war and the related topics.
With regard to COE research programs in the academic year of 2001, an international symposium was held in March 2002, four COE research fellows were recruited, and two foreign researchers were invited, which helped a vitalization of research activities in the NMJH.
An international symposium was held on the topic "The Interaction between Wa and Gaya in Ancient Eastern Asia". By outlining and sharing the results of the great progress made in archaeological surveys and research by Japanese and Korean researchers, this symposium aims to clarify the actual details and historical significance of the interaction between the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, including Gaya, and the Japanese islands from the third century to the sixth century. Active discussions were held at the symposium, which was enjoyed by a large number of participants, on the following four subjects: "Iron Materials between Gaya and Wa", "The Adaptation of Weapon and Horse Trapping for Battles of Horse", "The Interaction between Gaya and Wa from the Archeological Material", "The Interaction between Gaya and Wa and Its Historical Meaning".
This year, four COE research fellows were accepted and took part in the following projects: the basic research projects "Studies in the History of Urban Life in Japan" and the "The Formation of Agricultural Society and Its Impact on the Environment" and the Open Application research projects "Natural Disaster in Early Modern Japan" and the "Formation Process of Mizuki Collection and its Historical Significance".
Regarding the invitation of COE foreign research fellows, researchers from the Republic of Korea and the People's Republic of China were invited to participate in the collaborative research projects "Exchanges of People, Commodities, and Technical Skills and the System in Pre-Modern East Asia" and "The Formation of Agricultural Society and Its Impact on the Environment".
In the past few years there has been great change at work in the social environment, including universities. This change has led to remarkable changes in relation to research activities such as the restructuring of academic disciplines. This process has been accelerated this year by the initiatives to transform the inter-university research institutes and national universities into independent administrative agencies. In this context, the NMJH, as an inter-university research institute and COE research institute for Japanese history and culture, is urged to make clear the direction of its future research activities. In order to establish a framework for future collaborative research after 2002, the Research Committee has held extended committee meetings to extensively discuss "the future direction of research at the NMJH" and has gained the approval of the teaching staff, the Executive Liaison Committee, and the Steering Committee. In this ten-page report is a review of the past collaborative researches at the NMJH and a proposal of guidelines to mid-term research activities based on this review. The report summarized the NMJH's advantages as a COE as follows.
"The NMJH's innovativeness lies in its mission to uncover the history of changing lives of the people with a focus on illuminating Japanese history and culture, through a collaborative effort of history, archaeology, folklore, and other related disciplines, being based on the collection and preservation of historical materials, and the documentation and transmission of results obtained by surveys and research. The NHJH's mission also lies in redelivering the results of the research to the public in forms of research reports and exhibitions, making the results available to a broad public".
"The contemporary issues faced by researchers in Japanese history are those historical issues faced by Japan itself today, which develop with, as well as being linked to, the various issues that come up on a world-wide level. Therefore, the study of Japanese history calls for a relativization of modern Japanese society and the ability to identify and solve concrete problems with regard to the main issues of world history and human history, from the view point of world and human history. In the comprehensive study of Japanese history and culture conducted at NMJH, one is required to bring together a contemporary outlook with such issues of world and human history".
On the functional aspect of research at the NMJH as a whole, the report says, "The collaborative research at NMJH until now has centered around basic research and specific research according to specific subjects, and there has been a differentiation between such collaborative research projects and individual research. However, as NMJH faces incorporation into an independent administrative agency, it must fundamentally redefine its role and function as an organization with the limited human and financial resources it has. In such circumstances, it becomes necessary to enhance the NMJH's specificity and capacity to transmit history-related information. By developing a framework to systematize liberal and original individual research projects, as well as further development and enhancement of traditional basic research by subject, the NMJH now needs to launch, enhance, and develop its basic research function as an organization".
The Research Committee of the academic year of 2000 examined in depth the future direction of the NMJH, as an inter-university research institute with an annexed museum. The Research Committee of this year has defined more concretely the function of NMJH as a research institute in the following four points. The first is its function as an inter-university research institute, to serve as a center of promoting frontier research projects on Japanese history and culture with a focus on collaboration among history, archaeology, folklore, and other related disciplines. Another function is that of promotion of scientific research on collected material including comprehensive studies on chronological problems, while the third is a function as a frontier center for the advanced information for history-related materials and their comprehensive study. The fourth function is that of storages of materials, databases, equipment and facilities, which are made available to a large number of researchers from Japan as well as other countries. These are the four functions that need to be strengthened.
Taking advantage of the fact that, next year, many of the collaborative research projects currently in progress will be completed, plans are now underway to specifically restructure collaborative research projects within the scope of mid-to long-term plans.
Chairman of the Research Committee: IMAMURA Mineo
Collaborative researches are the projects that the NMJH, as an inter-university research institute, conducts in collaboration with scholars from universities and research institutes throughout Japan. The research topics have been selected according to various current issues related to Japanese history in a broader sense. Besides administrating colloquiums to be held at the Museum, the NMJH, since its establishment in 1981, has attached great importance to field works in material / document researches, archaeological site visits, and folklore studies. These collaborative researches are largely classified into two categories: Basic Research and Specific Research. The Basic Research is designed for interdisciplinary approaches in the studies of history, archaeology, folklore and other related science fields according to the four key concepts: "Environment", "Urban Life", "Basic Beliefs" and "Scientific Analysis of Historical Materials". The Specific Research, on the other hand, is based upon issues peculiar to each of the disciplines.
Furthermore, in order to actively promote diversity in research topics, a new framework added Scientific Research, Exhibition, and Open Application (composed of Exhibition and Materials Analysis) to the category of Specific Research.
The following is the list of on going projects.
(1) Studies in the History of Urban Life in Japan (1999-2001)
General Organizer: UENO Kazuo (Folklore and Folklife Department)
A. Distribution and Consumption in Ancient and Medieval Cities (1999-2001)
Organizer: SAKURAI Eiji (Faculty of Letters, Hokkaido University)
B. The Formation and Development of Regional Characteristics in Cities, with Particular Attention to Distribution and Culture since the Early Modern Era (1999-2001)
Organizer: YOSHIDA Nobuyuki (Humanities and Social Sciences Research Department, Graduate School, The University of Tokyo)
(2)Historical Analysis on Basic Beliefs in Local Societies (1999-2001)
General Organizer: SHIRAISHI Taichiro (Archaeology Department)
A. Kami Rites: the Entombment System and the Regional Society (1999-2001)
Organizer: SHIRAISHI Taichiro (Archaeology Department)
B. The Regional Community: Various Aspects of Culture and Basic Beliefs (1999-2001)
Organizer: TAKAHASHI Satoshi (History Department)
(3)Diversification and Integration of Historical Materials Analysis (1999-2001)
General Organizer: IMAMURA Mineo (Museum Science Department)
A. Diversified Analysis of Materials elated to Production and Usage (1999-2001)
Organizer: IMAMURA Mineo (Museum Science Department)
(4)Formation of Agricultural Society and Its Impact on Environment (2001-2003)
General Organizer: NISHIMOTO Toyohiro (Archaeology Department)
A. Problems in Agriculture in Jomon and Yayoi Periods (2001-2003)
Organizer: NISHIMOTO Toyohiro (Archaeology Department)
B. The Variety of Systems Utilizing Environment and Worlds of Living (2001-2003)
Organizer: SHINOHARA Toru (Folklore and Folklife Department)
(1)Comprehensive Study of Rangaku: the Study of Western Science in the Edo Era through the Dutch Language (1999-2001)
Organizer: AOKI Toshiyuki (ex-special director of Nagano Prefectural Museum of History)
(2)Study on Problems Related to Soldiers in Modern Japan
Organizer: ICHINOSE Toshiya (History Department)
(3)Study on Contemporary Culture in Folklore (2001-2003)
Organizer: SHIMAMURA Takanori (Folklore and Folklife Department)
(4)Floras that Migrated (2001-2002)
Organizer: TUJI Sei-ichiro (History Department)
(5)Philological Studies in the Diversity of Shrines (2001-2002)
Organizer: SHINTANI Takanori (Folklore and Folklife Department)
(6)Exchange of People, Commodities, and Technical Skills, and the System in Pre-Modern East Asia (2001-2003)
Organizer: ONO Masatoshi (Archaeology Department)
(7)The Formation on Process of Mizuki Collection and Its Historical Significance (2001-2003)
Organizer: TAKAGI Hiroshi (Institute for Research in Humanities, Kyoto University)
(8)Natural Disasters in Early Modern Japan; Historical Materials in Scientific Perspective (2001)
Organizer: KITAHARA Itoko (The Society of Historical Earthquake Studies)
(1)A Review on the Studies of Liang Zhu Culture (September 23, 2001)
Organizer: NISHIMOTO Toyohiro (Archaeology Department)
(2)The Excavation and Study of Xing Long Wa Site in Inner Mongoria Province of People's Republic of Chaina (November 15, 2001)
Organizer: ONO Masatoshi (Archaeology Department)
Museum Education and Digital Media (January 17, 2002)
Organizer: KOJIMA Michihiro (History Department)
The COE programs have been conducted since 1995 under the COE programs of Ministry of Education, Cultur, Sports, Science and Technology which aim at the formation of research institutions (Center of Excellence) that will promote top-level researches in the world. The NMJH has been designated as one of the core research institutions.
In the academic year 2001, the International Symposium on the Interaction between Wa and Gaya in Acient Eastern Asia was held from thirteenth to sixteenth March, 2002. The programs also include invitation of researchers abroad: Kim Joeng Dae and Wang Wei, and recruitmente of COE research fellows: UNO Kouitschi, ODANI Shingo, FUNAHASHI Akihiro and TERADA Masahiro.
As Wa's closest neighbor, the region known as Gaya, or Kara, in the southeast part of the Korean Peninsula played an extremely important role in the establishment of civilization and early state formation on the Japanese Islands. Recent progress in archaeological surveys and research in Korea focusing on this region have revealed in detail the actual circumstances of pre-sixth century interaction between Gaya and neighboring regions and Wa.
This international symposium was organized with the purpose of summarizing the current progress of research on the actual conditions of "Interaction between Wa and Gaya in Eastern Asia" and its historical significance and to identify the issues that have yet to be resolved.
The Interaction between Wa and Gaya in Ancient Eastern Asia
Session 1: Iron Materials between Gaya and Wa
Session 2: The Adaptation of the Weapon and the Horse Trapping for the Battle of Horse
Session 3: The Interaction between Gaya and Wa from the Archaeorogical Material
Session 4: The Interaction between Gaya and Wa and Its Historical Meaning
The research section of the NMJH consists of four departments: Museum Science, History, Archaeology, and Folklore and Folklife Studies. Each department conducts research projects on special grants for the purpose of contributing to the development of the discipline it specializes in. Museum Science Department are engaged in the "Study and Analysis of Important Historical Materials" according to analyses by natural science. History Department is involved in the "Fundamental Analysis of Non-literature Historical Materials", which is to collect and analyze non-literature materials that have not been regarded as important in the conventional studies of history. Archaeology Department conducts "Researches Based upon Compiled Archaeological Data", in which it compiles such as representational haniwa excavated throughout Japan. Folklore and Folklife Department strives to produce ethnographical films in its "Visual Anthropology" project as part of its folk-cultural studies, by making full use of audio-visual techniques developing rapidly these days.
Studies on Materials, Manufacturing-technique and Chronology of Cultural Properties (2001)
General Organizer: IMAMURA Mineo (Museum Science Department)
Study on Monuments to the Memory of Modern-day War (2001)
General Organizer: ARAI Katsuhiro (Faculty of Letters, Senshu University)
A Comprehensive Study of the Kyozuka Materials (2001-2003)
General Organizer: MURAKI Jiro (Archaeology Department)
The Blacksmith's Town: the Documentary Film of Sanjo (2001)
General Organizer: ASAOKA Koji (Folklore and Folklife Department)
* Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)(1):
Establishment of High-Precision Chronoly for the Jomon and Yayoi periods
IMAMURA Mineo
* Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)(1):
A Comparative Study of Pre-modern Metalwork Techniques with Chemical Analysis
UDAGAWA Takehisa
* Grant-in-Aid for Encouragement of Young Scientists (A)(2):
Anthropological Study in the Relation between People and Rural Forest / land, from the Point of Change and Diversity of Their Subsistences
YOSHIMURA Satoko
* Grant-in-Aid for Encouragement of Young Scientists (A)(2):
Castle Towns and Residential Warrior Districts in Early Modern Japan
IWABUCHI Reiji
* Grant-in-Aid for Encouragement of Young Scientists (A)(2):
The study of Schools of Manufacturing Han Mirrors from B.C. 1C to A.D. 1C
UENO Yoshifumi
* Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)(1):
Comparative Study of Regional Characteristics of Traditional Local Cities and Their Transformation-with Particular Attention to the Kanto and Chubu Districts
UENO Kazuo
* Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)(1):
Icongraphical Studies of Japanese Primitive Paintings
SHITARA Hiromi
* Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)(2):
The Mixture of Buddhism and Shintoism Style Shrines and Temples in Drawings: Arrangements of the Buildings, Forms of Belief, and the Environment of the Site
HAMASHIMA Masaji
* Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)(2):
Comprehensive Study of Multi-faceted Aspects of Documents Related to Shinto Shrines-based upon the analysis of existent documents handed down by old shrines
SHINTANI Takanori
* Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)(2):
Comprehensive Study of Museum Education, Educators' Training, and Historical Exhibitions in the Time of Life-long Education
SAHARA Makoto
* Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)(2):
Comparative Folklore Studies in the Mixture of Folk Beliefs and Advocated Religions-Research and Analysis of the Fete of Pardon in Bretagne, France
SHINTANI Takanori
* Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)(2):
Research and Study in the Folklore Based upon Regional Differences in Roles and Reasons for Living for the Aged in Aging Society
SEKIZAWA Mayumi
* Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)(2):
A Historical Background of the World of "Yoakemae"-Collection and Presentation of Materials Related to Nakatsugawa Kokugaku Scholars in the Bakumatsu Period
MIYACHI Masato
* Grant-in-Aid for Exploratory Research (2):
Studies on the Land Bridges in the Prehistoric Age by Cosmic Rays Exposure Dating
IMAMURA Mineo
* Grant-in-Aid for Encouragement of Young Scientists (A)(2):
Folkloristic Study Concerning Small Talks in Communities of Zainichi (Korean descendants in Japan) from the Standpoint of the Chat Place and Network
SHIMAMURA Takanori
* Grant-in-Aid for Encouragement of Young Scientists (A)(2):
Development of Defense Facilities and the Nations in the Pacific Rim Region in the Sixteenth Century
SENDA Yoshihiro
* The Origin and Spread of Pig Domestication on the Japanese Archipelago Based on Zooarchaeological Studies
ANEZAKI Satoko
* A Study on the Rule of Retired Emperor Gotoba
SHIMOGORI Takeshi
* The Role of Sadhu (Itinerant Priests) in Folk (Popular) Belief
TAKAHASHI (SUZUKI) Akiko
Historical studies of society and politics in the end of the Tokugawa shogunate
Studies comparing Japan and foreign countries by examining links between the present age and ancient times, including such topics as wars, subsistence, technology, and environment
Information systems for historical research and exhibition
Studies on archaeometry, in particular, the high-precision radiocarbon dating and its application to historical and archaeological researches, and development of scientific methodologies for historical and archaeological applications
Studies of medieval clans in coastal areas
Demonstrative studies of arms and armors including manufacturing-techniques
Exchange history of arms between Japan and East Asia in the medieval period
Ukiyoe prints and landscapes in the latter part of the Edo period
Studies in the relationships between air environments and deterioration of cultural objects, in particular, the mechanism and process indeterioration of fine art with chemical substances
Studies of historical objects on material, manufacturing-technique and provenance based on chemical and analytical methods
Dating and provenance research on historical and archaeological objects by isotope measurement
Museum information system in support of research activities, exhibition, and public relations, including computer network, database, and information processing of color and image
Historical materials from the standpoint of technological history and cultural history by nondestructive research method
Materials involved in lacquer and red pigments in terms of technological history and cultural history
Architectural styles, structures, and designs of shrines and temples
History of Japanese lacquerwork
Developments and applications of digital imaging method for museum materials
Historical geography and landscape in medieval Japan
The formation and transition of geographical knowledge from the standpoint of the history of cartography
Why people thought of conscription self-evident?
Human life in the middle ages
Financial obligations history in the middle age
History of cities, and consideration of social groups
Historical characteristics of regional communities in the latter part of early modern Japan
Ceremonies, rituals, and festivals in early modern societies
Educational programs at the museums of history
Cities, castles, and villages in medieval and early modern Japan
Museum education
Theoretical studies of the manor system, and studies of medieval documents
Japanese history of popular education, life culture, and society
Ecosystem history, taxonomy and phylogeny of cultivated plants
Establishment process of Japanese ancient capital cities
Theoretical study of ancient sovereignty
Society and culture of the Meiji era and the behavioral study of the old ministers of the Tokugawa shogunate
Ancient local societies-through the study of excavated written materials
History of traffic, traveling in early modern Japan
Historical study of farmers in early modern Japan
Historical study on the fund-raising for restoring temples and shrines
The silkworm exportation in the last days of the Tokugawa shogunate
Ancient philology
Anthropological study on the socio-ecological change and diversity
Archaeological studies in ancient cities, castles, local governments, villages, etc
Mutual interchanges of cultures within the Japanese Archipelago
Development of ancient East Asia in the period of the Han three countries and six dynasties
Archaeological study of medieval society
The beginning of the Yayoi period
The entombment system, cults, and folkways of the Jomon and Yayoi period
Kofun (mounded tombs) and the histories of society, politics and culture in the Kofun period (Tumulus period)
Studies of society and basic beliefs based on the entombment systems from the ancient to the medieval
Society in the Kofun (Tumulus) period and haniwa
The Japanese medieval and early modern castles and castle town sites
Comparative study of castles and defense cities in Japan and Europe
History of East Asia
Environmental archaeology in the Jomon and Yayoi periods
Social structures, festivals, rites and customs of the Palaeolitic to Kofun periods
Transition to agriculture in the prehistory of Japan
The history of iron production
The history of religions in Japan
Traditional technologies and their transfigurations
Family, kinship and ancestor worship
Substantiation and theoretical researches of the relation between man and sound
Ecological studies for the folk-life
Systematization in the folklore of multiculturalism
Folkloric studies in the societies of "Zainichi (Korean descendants)" and of "Kakyo (Chinese merchants)" in Japan
Comprehensive studies in folklore
Comprehensive studies in folklore, especially the research on cult groups and rituals, and a folkloric study of the old and age, view of life and view of death, discussion on the transformation and transmission of folklore
Studies of the literature by oral transmission and folk beliefs
The family and the kin structure in Japan and Asia, particularly, a comparative study of cultural backgrounds for the generation of patrilineal descent groups
Various aspects of folkloric cultures developed by the relationship between man and the environment
Funeral rituals and cultural concepts of life and death; contemporary society and folk culture
The interchange of material and culture around the Ryukyu Islands
Popular culture in pre-modern Japan, with a focus on art history
Modernization and reconstruction of cultures in East Asia
Anthropology of new reproductive technologies
Colonialism and anthropology (folkrore) in Japan
Comparative study of kin structures in East Asia and of the acceptance of Feng-shui among people
A study on the performing groups and the commercial entertainment system in pre-modern times
Construction of mathematical chromatics
Development of mathematical methodologies and software for the analysis of color images
Preservation and utilization of color information in digital archives
Quantitative analysis of traditional Japanese colors
Shoso-in documents
History of distribution economy in ancient Japan
History of coins in ancient Japan
Regional history in ancient Japan
Radiocarbon measurement with accelerator mass spectrometry
Application of AMS for rare isotope measurements
Study on carbon cycling
A study of behaviour and concerning death among the Japanese
Socio-ecological studies in Swidden and / or pastoral societies
Anthropological studies on inter-ethnic relations and conflict in North-East Africa
The Neolithic Age and the Bronze Age in East Asia
Social structure of the manorial public territory system (shoen-koryo sei)
Festivals in urban areas
Shamanism
Anthropological study for the socio-cultural factors of the sex difference in mortality
Ecological anthropological study for the traditional cultivation in Highlands Fringe region of Papua New Guinea
Study on the memories of the Great Hanshin Earthquake: its structure and historical recognition
The development of "landownership" and the community in pre-modern Japan
(1) The Jomon People in the Northern Island-Cultural Interchange Beyond the Sea March 20 - May 20, 2001
About the details of the exhibition, please refer to Annual Report on Research Activity 9 of NMJH at page 148.
(2) Kaleidoscope of the Different World-The World to Come, Specters, Fortune Telling
July 17 - September 2, 2001
It is believed that the different worlds exist on beyond people's scope. By imagining various things about these invisible worlds, one can relieve the anxieties of daily life and have come to find the spiritual anchor. The culture, the strong imagination for the different worlds created and developed, shows the various aspects, as it is, the mountain with broad base.
One example of the different worlds is the world to come. As Buddhism had become popular, the fear and anxiety of the world after death have formed the unique views of the next world on each locale. People thought one could have exchanged with the shades through various ceremonies, and sometimes such exchanges were told as the appearance of ghosts.
Another example is the world of specters. When people encounter irrational phenomena and fear, they thought it have done by specters. Tales of specters have not been orally transmitted, but become the theme of picture scrolls, of woodblock paints and the topic of newspapers. It has also become to be a kind of entertainment people enjoyed. The world before birth (or former incarnation) and future are also different worlds, since they are unknown. Fortune telling, the artificial way used to predict the future and the fortune of events, developed as a way to know the god's will and continue to present showing various forms of expansion.
In this exhibition, we have focused on The World to Come, Specters and Fortune Telling. To present the various aspects of different worlds that people imagined and to trace the line of interaction between people and the different worlds, we discuss the mentality behind the need for the different worlds and the meaning of it in modern society.
(3) What Can Be Learned From Illustrations of Shrine and Temple Grounds?
October 2 - December 9, 2001
Illustrations of shrine and temple grounds drawn in the early modern age are extremely valuable and useful historical reference materials. These shrine and temple ground illustrations have come to be recognized as important reference materials for research concerning shrines and temples. Illustrations from mainly pre-medieval times have been used in fields such as architectural history, religious history, historical geography and art history.
Illustrations of grounds from early modern times have been overlooked as valuable research references. For this reason, the National Museum of Japanese History included the subject of hand-drawn illustrations of shrine and temple grounds from the early modern period in a national location survey of museum reference materials conducted in 1999.This special exhibition, based on the results of that survey, focuses on the value and significance of illustrations of shrine and temple grounds produced mainly in the early modern period as research materials and presents the topic from a variety of perspectives. The exhibition also reveals how modern temples and shrines that are now the sites of annual events, pilgrimages and leisure outings are connected to pilgrimages in the early modern age.
(4) REKIHAKU 20th Anniversary Exhibition
Ancient Japanese Writing Symbols-From the Golden Stamp to Documents from the Shoso-in
March 19 - June 9, 2002
This exhibition has the following four objectives.
1. To explain the process of how Japan, which had no written language, received written characters from China and how it was possible for Japan to develop its own system of writing while under the strong influence of ancient Korea. At the beginning of the eighth century, that foreign influence planted the seed for Japanese works such as Kojiki, Nihon Shoki, Man'yoshu and the "world of documents from the Shoso-in". Documents from the Shoso-in are indispensable, basic research materials for the study of ancient Japanese history. However, they are only displayed to the public on special occasions. There are few examples in the world of a huge collection of 1,200-year-old writings preserved in good condition. This is why we are taking on the task of reproducing in finest detail about 800 of the Shoso-in documents as one of the main project in the main collection. About 250 scrolls have already been produced. In the main exhibition we will display a group of enlarged reproductions.
2. It is thought that in ancient Japan, written characters played a large social role as an instrument of government and as things that held mystical power to an extent that was not seen in later eras. Using specific examples from the standpoint of "writing, people, and locations", we would like to illustrate the unique world of written characters-the ecology of written characters-of ancient Japan, which differs from China, where the characters originated.
3. This exhibition would like to expand on a premise from the perspective that ancient Japanese society already contained an extensive "characterless world" and had formed its own unique culture of written characters.
4. Thanks to the discovery of enormous amounts of archeological materials with written characters in recent years, the situation of the ancient written culture common to both Japan and Korea has, in particular, become extremely clear. The year of this exhibition is 2002 (Heisei 14), a year that should be commemorated for the achievement of great progress in the close relationship between Japan and South Korea. Fortunately, thanks to full cooperation from various Korean organizations, we have been able to borrow some of Korea's major ancient written materials. This is the first public open exhibition of ancient written materials found in Korea to be displayed in Japan. We hope to compare them to Japanese materials.
Writing (kanji characters) originating from China and spread throughout East Asia, where it long reigned as an international writing system. However, in Vietnam and Korea today, writing is mainly in indigenous scripts. With the exception of China itself, the only other culture using Chinese characters continuing to the present day is Japan, which early on began writing in a mix of Chinese and native characters. However, it cannot be said that the future of the culture of Chinese characters in Japan is secure. In considering the written culture of the twenty-first century, it is necessary to fully reconsider what writing was in ancient society. Therefore, this exhibition focuses on reproductions of about 100 scrolls of the Shoso-in documents, artifacts from archeological digs such as letters on lacquer lid paper, wooden tablets, and earthenware with ink writings from around the country, and also epigraphs and materials related to writing as such as implements. And we will combine ancient written materials from China and Korea to recreate the world of writing in ancient Japan. By looking at writing in these ways, we hope to paint an accurate picture of ancient society.
* Special program at the Botanical Garden of Everyday Life:
Japanese Morning Glory (August 7 - September 9, 2001)
Winter Flowers "Camellia Sasanqua" (November 13, 2001 - January 14, 2002)
* Exhibition of New Items in the Collection (January 16 - February 18, 2002)
For activities related to the museum collections of the academic year of 2001, the NMJH collected materials, made replicas, held New Collections of Exhibits, published museum collection catalogs, and called meetings for the Investigative Committee on Museum Collections and the Examination Committee on Museum Storage Environment. The directions in the collection, as well as the methods of arrangement, management, and exhibition to the public, were also discussed at the Material Committee.
Furthermore, the Committee on Museum Collections discussed implementing a review of the way the NMJH has been collecting materials until now, creating a manual on taking care of materials, making arrangements for holding an audit committee meeting, and establishing a same-day viewing system for material in the Museum's collections. Of these, the discussions on making arrangements for holding an audit committee meeting yielded some results and the Committee proposed to the chairman of next year's Committee that the idea be implemented, on a trial basis, within the Committee. As for creating a manual on taking care of materials and establishing a same-day viewing system for material in the Museum's collections, these also resulted in a draft proposal. However, the finer points need to be refined before the plans can be put to actual use and so much expectation is placed on future Committees. Establishing guidelines for the collection of materials by the NMJH is an important task to be undertaken by the Committee on Museum Collections and the 2001 Committee laid the foundations for this task by conducting a review of the Museum's conventional collecting methods but could not arrive at a common conclusion. Nevertheless, as the financial conditions surrounding the NMJH grow ever more strict, it will become essential to establish clear guidelines on collecting material for the entire museum so that the limited funds can be used effectively. The Committee on Museum Collections will need, therefore, to proceed promptly in carrying out the necessary reviews for this purpose.
As of March 2002, the NMJH collection has amounted to approximately 160,000 items in total, which is the sum of purchases, donations, and in-house products.
An inventory of items and illustrated catalogs for the major collections have already been issued at the appropriate times. In order to continue presenting the material to the public, however, it will be necessary to continue to publish as well as maintain coordination with the database
Information management of the NMJH is conducted under the support of the Committee of Information System. The Committee promoted the formation of databases based on compilation of research outcomes as well as the publication of databases for museum materials, in particular, the database of detailed contents. In addition to these, as a means of information services for the visitors (the REKIHAKU Cross Road), the Committee promoted electronic services of museum materials, their contents formation such as those of super-fine digital data and for broadcast terminal, and the service of the "Virtual Exhibitions" to the public through the INTERNET. These activities are based on the "NMJH Fifth Stage of Information System Program" planned in July 1998, and the "Action Plan" of March 2000. To accommodate to the progress in the Information System thereafter and to reflect its outcome on the plan, the Committee revised the Action Plan in November, 2001, and schemed its embodiment.
In addition to the above services, the capacity expansion of the museum LAN system to Giga-bits was promoted to enable the research and exhibition activities that make use of large-scale image databases.
The NMJH collects books according to the fundamental policies of the NMJH as an inter-university institution to promote the collaboration research among history, archaeology, folklore and the related fields, and also to facilitate the education for graduate students. The collection covers different disciplines and boundaries, and those related to interdisciplinary and international studies as well. The Library Committee supports to systematically collect: (1) books related to the themes of collaborative researches of the NMJH, (2) books on regional history, in particular, those related to people's life history, (3) archaeological and folkloric field reports, (4) basic textbooks on Asian history, (5) collection of historical documents, (6) books and catalogs related to museum activities.
In academic year of 2001, the followings were purchased and added to the collection: Chinese and Korean archaeological / folkloric reports, Korean regional history books, archaeological field reports, regional history books on the Kyushu district, In addition, about 3,700 items were donated to the Library by the former Director-General, SAHARA Makoto.
In accordance with the progress in information technology, the NMJH offers services in electronic devices: electronic survey system, "OPAC", electronic journals on-line through the LAN system of the museum, materials in the form of CD-ROM and microfilms. Change of the library indexing system to NDC, which started in 1992, is completed.
One of the important research activities in NMJH is the research on historical materials analysis in a broader sense. It includes analysis of the historical materials by means of new methodologies based on the state of art technology. To this aim the NMJH has endeavored at introducing research equipments since its establishment, as well as promoting the collaboration with scholars and researchers outside the museum who engage in the development of methodology.
15 equipments, which include analytical instruments, computers, and audio-visual equipments, have been installed in the last 5 years. The equipments that were introduced in the academic year of 2001 are an X-ray diffractometer (RINT2500VPC-MW), and an automatic sample preparation system for radiocarbon dating (K-RI-C), which has been added to our list of earlier equipments such as 3-dimensional image input equipment, extremely large image display system, digital HF microscope, vacuum line system for sample preparation of radiocarbon dating, X-ray film digitizer, high frequency furnace for carbon and sulfur analysis of metal and CO2 extraction, inductively coupled plasma / glow-discharge mass spectrometer: ICP / GD-MS, Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer: FT-IR, X-ray fluorescence spectrometer: XRF, scanning electron microscopes: SEM, X-ray CT scanner, thermal ionization mass spectrometer: TI-MS, etc. Most of he research equipments are open for use to the researchers who engage in the collaboration research programs of the museum.
Although the NMJH has always been active in holding many different types of activities since its founding, since 1998 the Museum's "education project team" has been in charge of various efforts in coordinating with schools and promoting the use of the NMJH in life-long education.
The academic year of 2001 saw the continuation of the "Rekihaku Lecture Series" (monthly), the "Rekihaku Forums" (five sessions) and the "Observation Gatherings at the Botanical Garden of Everyday Life" (monthly) for adults, and the "Rekihaku Exploration" (monthly) for elementary and junior high school students. On a trial basis, the "Rekihaku Seminar for Teachers" (one session) was held again this academic year.
Furthermore, the Museum supports various seminars organized by "Friends of Rekihaku" and the "Museum Tour Seminar" organized by Sakura City Hall. The Museum is open to accepting interns from various organizations at all times.
The NMJH currently prepares various materials for group visits by schools and provides them to the children on a trial basis. Teaching staff and research promotion staff are also available to help when appropriate and upon request. The Museum is also considering future coordination with schools such as supporting experimental classes given by cooperating schools or holding "Seminars on effective use of Rekihaku".
The "Family Quiz Program" and the "Summer Holidays Independent Project Consultation Room" were continued on a trial basis while a "Sketching Day" was newly introduced. In addition, an experiment was conducted on museum labels for children.
The NMJH continue to issue the journal "Rekihaku" (bimonthly). A new guidebook on the general exhibitions was prepared. Through publishing companies and the NMJH Publicity Committee, the Museum also published chronicles of its forums, the "Rekihaku booklet series" and the "Rekishi-zukan (Illustrated reference of history) series" (new).
The NMJH enriched the content of the information made available via the Internet website and installed additional broadcast-type terminal software in the exhibition room.
The visitor survey project continuously checks the movements and awareness of the visitors in the exhibition rooms, as well as their evaluation of individual services such as museum labels for children and volunteers, and prepares a report for reference in making improvements.
The NMJH began using a considerable number of volunteers, on a trial basis, in the planned exhibition "Kaleidoscope of the Different World-The World to Come, Specters, and Fortune Telling".
PR for the planned exhibitions consisted of running advertisements in various media through an advertising agency.
An introductory exhibition was held at the "Hidaka National Children's Center for Outdoor Education".
It is essential to clearly position exhibitions as practical research that also includes the evaluation system.
Vol.92 Distribution and Consumption in Acient and Midieval Urban Life;
Collaborative Research: Studies in the Urban History in Japan Group A: the first stage
Vol.93
Vol.94 Historical Relations between Asia and Japan from the Standpoint of Ceramics
Vol.95 Collaborative Research: The Formation and Development of the Zaigo-cho: Analysis of Kiryu-Shinmachi
Vol.96 Collaborative Research: Natural Disasters and Developments in Japanese History I
Vol.97
* Kaleidoscope of the Different Worlds-The World to Come, Specters, Fortune Telling (2001.7)
* What Can Be Learned From Illustrations of Shrine and Temple Grounds? (2001.10)
* Winter Flowers "Camellia Sasanqua" (2001.12)
* Ancient Japanese Writing Symbols-From the Golden Stamp to Documents from the Shoso-in (2002.3)
* Museum monograph 12 "Collected Drawings of Shrine and Temple Precincts 2" (2002.3)
* Illustrated Catalogue of National Museum of Japanese History vol.2 "The Nomura Collection of Kosode byobu"
No.106-111
* Castles and the Unification of the Realm (2002.3)
The course of specialized studies in Japanese History at the Graduate University for Advanced Studies is a graduate program for doctoral students whose base organization is the National Museum of Japanese History. The NMJH is an inter-university research institute with a focus on historical studies with four research specializations-history, archaeology, folklore, and the study of historical materials-and over fifty affiliated scholars and researchers. A characteristic feature of the NMJH is that it not only supports individual researches but also actively pursues collaborative research with researchers outside the Museum.
The Museum's exhibitions are also not merely displays of valuable material. They have been planned as a result of collaborative research and, therefore, are also presentations of research results.
The objective of the Graduate University for Advanced Studies is to foster scholars and researchers with a high level of specialized knowledge and research skills. The specific goal is to use the results of research conducted while in the graduate course to prepare a doctoral dissertation and obtain a doctorate degree. The dissertation should deal with the frontier discoveries and theories in that field so that by preparing the dissertation one can expect progress to be made both by the author in his or her studies as well by the discipline itself. In this respect, doctoral dissertations deal with very specialized fields so that their subjects and outlook are likely to become narrow.
However, if one is to construct an entire academic system through the preparation of the dissertation, this requires a broad perspective and diversified methodology, from defining issues to developing the logic and making deductions. Therefore, as a prerequisite to beginning the dissertation, it is necessary to cultivate broad knowledge without specializing in one narrow area. In this respect, the course of specialized studies in Japanese History at the Graduate University for Advanced Studies is home to many researchers in the four closely-linked fields, and the education given here offers many different outlooks for the students. It is not easy to deepen one's understanding of one's specialization and broaden one's horizon in the limited timeframe of three years. Nevertheless, the curriculum for this course is based on the requests of the students.
Furthermore, the fact that the core organization for this course is a museum provides access to a great collection of research material. There is also a generous amount of analytical equipment used to obtain new information from such material and computers used to process the data. Therefore, it is expected that students will make the most of this course of specialized studies in Japanese History, which enjoys both plentiful human resources and facilities as an inter-university research institute.
This year, the course is in its third year since its founding in the academic year of 2001. Thirteen students are enrolled in various specializations such as history, archeology, and folklore. An abundance of lectures are scheduled to meet the academic needs of the students, given by enthusiastic professors. There are currently two students who are studying in this course while working on a local board of education or museum. That is another characteristic of this course-that it gives people who have work in their own region the chance to obtain a higher level of knowledge without giving up their jobs.
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