Information on Archive Rooms

Documentary materials, books, etc. related to Minamata disease are collected and stored here and are also available for viewing.

Access to the materials stored in Archive Room 1:

Archive Room 1, which mainly serves as a storage of books, can be accessed by staff-accompanied regular visitors, who can also view the archived items. If you would like to view the collection, please let us know the date and time of your visit and the time required for viewing in advance by phone or email.

The directory of documentary materials, etc. stored in Archive Room 1 has been posted.

Click here to view the directory of the collection in Archive Room 1 (PDF)

Access to the materials stored in Archive Room 2:

Archive Room 2, principally a depository of historical documents and other archival materials on Minamata disease, is not accessible to the general public. (Publicly disclosable materials may be viewed upon advance request.)
The Archives was granted a designation as a Historical Document Depository Institution (among 11 such institutions in the country) in April 2011 by the Prime Minister.

→For information on Historical Document Depository Institutions, please click here (you will be directed to an external page).

If you wish to access the materials stored in Archive Room 2, an advance request is required.
The directory of documentary materials, etc. stored in Archive Room 2 has been posted. Please check this directory to identify in advance the documents you wish to access and then submit an access request form by e-mail. Up to five materials may be requested in a single request.

After receiving an access request form, we will notify you of the date on which the materials will be available and you may schedule your visit on or after that date. Once your visit day is fixed, please let us know in advance so that we can make the requested materials ready for you.

Click here to view the directory of the collection in Archive Room 2 (PDF)

→Access request form (Word format)

To be sent to:

E-mail:

List of catalogs of other Minamata disease-related facilities

Here are some other facilities that store historical materials related to Minamata Disease.

Kumamoto Gakuen University The Open Research Center for Minamata Studies
：Their “Minamata Archives” created and accumulated originally consists of "Database of Archival Documents" and "Audio Visual Collection".

→https://gkbn.kumagaku.ac.jp/minamata/english/

Kumamoto University Library
：Kumamoto University School of Medicine's research papers, research reports, books, etc. on Minamata disease, as well as a chronology of Minamata disease related to Minamata disease with newspaper article headlines, are published.

→https://www.lib.kumamoto-u.ac.jp/collections/minamata

Kumamoto University Archives
：Stores papers and contributions of studies conducted at the Kumamoto University School of Medicine, archives of the Minamata Disease Study Group, and of Kumamoto University professors and others.

→http://archives.kumamoto-u.ac.jp/minamata.html

Niigata Learning Center for Humans ＆ the Environment
：Mainly holds materials, magazines, and booklets related to Niigata Minamata disease.

→http://www.fureaikan.net/minamata/data.php

SOSHISHA, the Supporting Center for Minamata Disease
：Stores Minamata disease-related materials, books, newspaper articles, photographs, films, and audio materials.

→https://opac.jp.net/Opac/search.htm?s=0Cc9k026IYaeUukruGs0d1763vh