Japan Studies: Get Started

Searchable using either Japanese or Latin characters. Computers in the Information Commons and Reference Area of the Undergraduate Library and Davis Library can toggle between English (United States), Russian, Chinese (PRC), Japanese, and Korean keyboard characters by using the language bar.

The language currently being used is displayed as an icon in the system tray at the bottom right corner of the monitor.It is a small blue square that will indicate:

• if English is selected
• if Japanese is selected  (To add Japanese as input language: Windows / Mac)

• If an item is not available at UNC, broaden your search to regional universities at TRLN (Triangle Research Libraries Network).
• If no libraries within TRLN own the item you are looking for, look at the item's global holding status at OCLC Worldcat.

Type your research keywords in the search box by using Japanese characters (e.g. 徳川家康).

OR

Type your research keywords by the ALA-LC transliteration system into the Latin alphabets (e.g. Tokugawa Ieyasu). Diacritics marks are not necessary (e.g. if you looking for materials related to Tōkyō, it is sufficient to type Tokyo in the search box).

The romanization of Japanese is the application of the Latin script to write the Japanese language. However, there are various ways to romanize. To know more:

• Library of Congress Japanese Romanization System (standard system used by libraries in North America)
• Kunrei-shiki Romanization 訓令式ローマ字　(standard system used by Japanese institutions)
• Toponymic Guidelines for Map Editors and other Editors, Japan (Geospatial Information Authority of Japan 国土地理院)
• Romanization of Geographical Names in Japan (Japanese only, Geospatial Information Authority of Japan 国土地理院)
• Romanization of Japanese (Wikipedia).

Rules to divide Japanese words are presented in Library of Congress Japanese Romanization Table. However,these rules have been revised many times. As a consequence, some online records still follow old rules. For example,

• 「大辞典」 may be "daijiten" or "dai jiten" or "dai-jiten"
• 「日本史」 may be "nihonshi" or "nihon shi"
• 「会社史」 may be "kaishashi" or "kaisha shi"

Please try all possible forms when performing a search.

"A primary source is a document, image, or artifact that provides evidence about the past. It is an original document created contemporaneously with the event under discussion. A direct quote from such a document is classified as a primary source. A secondary source is a book, article, film, or museum that displays primary sources selectively in order to interpret the past." (Robert C. Williams, The Historian's Toolbox: A Student's Guide to the Theory and Craft of History, p.58 ). Examples include:

• Magazine and newspaper articles published at the time
• Hand-written documents like diaries and journals
• Maps
• Laws & court cases
• Speeches, interviews, letters
• Memoirs and autobiographies
• literary manuscripts
• Records of government agencies
• Records of organizations
• Public opinion polls
• Fiction from a particular time and place
• Research data
• Religious or philosophical texts
• Artifacts of all kinds: physical objects, furniture, tools, clothing, etc.
• Photographs, audio recordings, movies and videos
• Art, including paintings, prints and other media