Yokohama Archives of History

Yokohama Archives of History
663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source
Name	Yokohama Archives of History
Established	1981
Location	Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Type	History museum, archive

Yokohama Archives of History The Yokohama Archives of History is a public archival institution in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, dedicated to preserving materials related to the opening of Japan to the world and the port city’s modern development. The institution collects primary sources connected to the arrival of foreign delegations such as the Perry Expedition, the signing of the Convention of Kanagawa, and subsequent treaties that shaped Meiji Restoration-era Japan. Its holdings support scholarship on 19th- and 20th-century interactions among actors including the Tokugawa shogunate, Meiji government, and foreign powers.

History

The archive was established in the late 20th century as part of municipal efforts to conserve documents stemming from Yokohama’s role following the Convention of Kanagawa, the Harris Treaty, and ports-opening events associated with figures like Commodore Matthew C. Perry, Townsend Harris, and representatives of the United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands, France, and Russia. Its founding responded to scholarship interests in the Bakumatsu period, the Meiji Restoration, and urban transformations studied by historians working on topics related to the Tokugawa shogunate, Emperor Meiji, and the Iwakura Mission. Over time the institution expanded collections tied to the Great Kantō earthquake, World War II, Allied occupation, and postwar reconstruction involving actors such as General Douglas MacArthur and the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers.

Collections and Holdings

The archives hold manuscripts, diplomatic correspondence, consular records, maps, photographs, newspapers, and personal papers documenting contacts among representatives of the United States, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Russia, Prussia, and other countries. Prominent collections include documents related to the Perry Expedition, the Harris Treaty, the Ansei Treaties, and records bearing on the Iwakura Mission, Satsuma Domain, Chōshū Domain, and Shimazu family papers. The photographic archive contains materials linked to early photographers in Japan such as Felice Beato, Uchida Kuichi, and Baron Raimund von Stillfried, alongside postcards, stereographs, and prints referencing Yokohama foreign settlements and the Kobe foreign settlement. Holdings also encompass municipal records tied to Yokohama Port, documents about the Great Kantō earthquake and the 1923 reconstruction, business archives from trading houses like Jardine Matheson, Shell, Mitsubishi, and Mitsui, and materials concerning shipping companies such as Nippon Yusen and the China Navigation Company.

Building and Architecture

The archive occupies a historic structure in Yokohama's port district, situated near landmarks like Yamashita Park, Kannai, and the Yokohama Customs Building. Architectural features reflect adaptive reuse practices visible in conversions of Meiji- and Taishō-period warehouses, comparable to projects involving the Red Brick Warehouse and Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall. The physical complex includes climate-controlled stacks, conservation laboratories, and exhibition galleries designed to meet international standards used by institutions such as the National Archives of Japan, the British Library, and the Library of Congress. The site’s proximity to Motomachi, Chinatown, and the Ōsanbashi Pier makes it part of a cultural landscape frequented by visitors following itineraries that include the Yokohama Museum of Art and Sankeien Garden.

Exhibitions and Programs

Permanent and temporary exhibitions present thematic narratives linking the Perry Expedition, the Harris Treaty, the Meiji Restoration, and industrialization to urbanization and international trade involving companies, consulates, and missions from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Russia, and China. Past exhibits have highlighted subjects such as the Iwakura Mission, foreign settlement life, early photography by Felice Beato and Stillfried, maritime history with references to the Black Ship, and wartime Yokohama during the Pacific War. Educational programs engage schools, universities like the University of Tokyo and Keio University, and international scholars via lectures, seminars, symposiums, and partnerships with museums including the Yokohama Museum of Art, the British Museum, and the Smithsonian Institution. Public outreach often features collaborations with the Japan Center for Asian Historical Records and municipal cultural agencies.

Research and Publications

The archives publish catalogs, research bulletins, exhibition guides, and monographs supporting studies on Bakumatsu diplomacy, Meiji-era modernization, urban history, and transnational networks connecting Yokohama to Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Victorian-era port cities. Researchers access primary sources relevant to studies involving figures such as Tokugawa Ieyasu in comparative contexts, Emperor Meiji, Ito Hirobumi, Saigō Takamori, and foreign envoys like Townsend Harris and Rutherford Alcock. The institution facilitates academic theses, peer-reviewed articles, and collaborative projects with universities, archives, and institutions including the National Diet Library, the Historiographical Institute, and international research centers focusing on maritime history and colonial-era commerce.

Access and Visitor Information

The archives are accessible from Kannai Station and Bashamichi Station, and lie within walking distance of landmarks such as Yamashita Park, Chinatown, and Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse. Visitor services include reading rooms, digital access terminals, reproduction services, guided tours, and multilingual exhibit labels for speakers of English, Chinese, and other languages. Researchers must follow procedures for access to special collections, identification requirements, and appointment systems used by archives like the National Archives of Japan and university special collections; photocopying and digital imaging comply with repository policies. The institution participates in cultural events, open days, and cooperative programs with municipal tourism offices and international cultural foundations.

Category:Archives in Japan Category:Museums in Yokohama