Research Guides: A Guide to Japanese Studies Resources: Reference

Mobile Apps

‎miwo on the App Store
Created by Tarin Clanuwat in cooperation with ROIS-DS人文学オープンデータ共同利用センター（CODH）, "みを/miwo" enables users to read transcribed kuzushi-ji in modern language instantly through camera function on users' smartphones.

Some reference tools are available as mobile apps on iOS and Android devices. This LibGuide page lists selected apps that may be useful for doing research on Japan, such as dictionaries and world fact books.

Learning and reading kuzushiji/hentaigana

The Hentaigana App: iOS, Android by UCLA (English)
KuLA: iOS (Japanese App Store only), Android
- ☝　Link to the website of KuLA（アプリで学ぶくずし字）(Japanese)

Quick Search

Quick Search, WashU Libraries' discovery tool, integrates the index of JapanKnowledge. Without leaving Quick Search, you can search dictionary and encyclopedia entries on Japan-related topics/terms as well as JapanKnowledge e-book titles.

JapanKnowledge

JapanKnowledge Lib
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Cross-search major Japanese encyclopedias and dictionaries. JapanKnowledge covers a wide range of subject areas, such as history, religion and literature, as well as languages, including kanji, historical and contemporary Japanese, and Chinese-Japanese, Korean-Japanese and English-Japanese dictionaries. For the full list of resources included, see http://japanknowledge.com/en/contents/
国史大辞典 (Kokushi Daijiten)
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Kokushi Daijiten, a comprehensive dictionary of Japanese history, is available as part of the JapanKnowledge package, but must be accessed through a standalone interface. We share one (1) simultaneous access with 10 other universities. If your login fails, please check back at a later time. Also, as a courtesy to users in other institutions, please log off by clicking the "logout" button on the top right corner when you are done.
日本歴史地名大系 (Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei)
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Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei is a dictionary of Japanese historical geographical names. This resource is also available as part of the JapanKnowledge package, but must be accessed through a standalone interface. We share one (1) simultaneous access with 10 other universities. If your login fails, please check back at a later time. Also, as a courtesy to users in other institutions, please log off by clicking the "logout" button on the top right corner when you are done.

Encyclopedias/Dictionaries

Encyclopedia of Japan : Japanese history and culture, from abacus to zori
Olin Level 3 Stacks DS805 P47 1991
Japan : an illustrated encyclopedia
Olin Level 3 Stacks DS805 .J3 1993
Japan encyclopedia
Olin Level 3 Stacks DS821 .F7313 2002
Kodansha encyclopedia of Japan
West Campus Library
Kodansha encyclopedia of Japan
On JapanKnowledge database
Modern Japan : an encyclopedia of history, culture, and nationalism
Olin Level 3 Stacks DS805 M63 1998
日本文化いろは事典 (Encyclopedia of Japanese Culture)
Online resource

ふりがな英和辞典 (Kodansha's furigana English-Japanese dictionary)
East Asian Reference PL679 K67 1996
硏究社新英和大辞典 (Kenkyusha's new English-Japanese dictionary)
East Asian Reference PL679 .K39 2002
英辞郎
Online dictionary
怒涛の翻訳例辞書
Online resource

硏究社新和英大辞典 (Kenkyusha's new Japanese-English dictionary)
East Asian Reference PL679 .K4 2003
The new Nelson Japanese-English character dictionary
East Asian Reference PL679 .N4 1997

広辞苑第6版 (Kōjien dai 6-han)
East Asian Reference PL675 .S5 2008
日本国語大辞典 (Nihon kokugo daijiten)
East Asian Reference PL675 .N46 2000 (Also available electronically through JapanKnowledge)

大漢和辞典 (Dai Kan-Wa jiten)
East Asian Reference PL1425 M6
漢字ペディア (Kanji-pedia)
Online resource

Japanese names : a comprehensive index by characters and readings
East Asian Reference/Olin Level A Stacks PL528 O5
Japanese, Chinese, and Korean surnames and how to read them : 125,947 Japanese, 594 Chinese, and 259 Korean surnames written with Kanji as they appear in Japanese texts
East Asian Reference PL683 .H33 1998
歴史人名よみかた辞典 (Rekishi jinmei yomikata jiten)
East Asian Reference DS834 R44 1989
日本人名辞典 (Nihon jinmei jiten)
East Asian Reference CT1833 H3
人名用総合漢字表 (Jinmeiyō sōgō kanjihyō)
East Asian General Stacks CS3000 J56
日本人名大辞典
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Available online through JapanKnowledge

Maps

Japanese Historical Maps Collection from the C. V. Starr East Asian Library
Compiled by Toshie Marra, Japanese Studies Librarian at UC Berkeley, this LibGuide navigates researchers who need access to historical maps in Japan and beyond.
Japanese Historical Maps
Contains about 2300 early maps of Japan and the world (This collection is also available on LUNA Commons, accessible through Washington University's LUNA image delivery at http://luna.wustl.edu:8180/luna/servlet/login. Login with your WUSTL Key and password).
Japanese Maps of the Tokugawa Era
UBC's collections of maps and guidebooks of the Japanese Tokugawa period
日本歴史地名大系 (Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei)
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The dictionary of Japanese historical geographical names. Available online.
Gaihozu (外邦図) at National Diet Library
The National Diet Library of Japan's holding of gaihozu, the maps of Imperial Japan's colonies and overseas interests produced during the time of the Empire.
お茶の水大学外邦図コレクション (Ochanomizu Women's Univ. gaihozu collection)
A digitized collection of gaihozu held at Ochanomizu Women's University.
東北大学付属図書館　外邦図デジタルアーカイブ (Gaihozu digital archive, Tohoku University)
A digital collection of gaihozu held at Tohoku University.

A Short Guide to GSI Japan
Navigation for the website of "Geospatial Information Authority (GSI) of Japan" in English. Created by Dr. Matthew Hayes at Duke WashU Libraries
地理院地図 (Chiriin chizu)
Digital maps provided by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (Kokudo chiri-in).
Mapion
A commercial website for city maps, transportation maps and postal code look up.
YAHOO! 地図 (YAHOO! Maps)
郵便番号検索 (Yubin bango kensaku)
Postal code look up.

For additional map searching tips, visit the National Diet Library's リサーチ・ナビ.

Additional Online Resources

Doryoko (度量衡 measurements) Conversion
For converting traditional Chinese length, volume and weight measurements to Western units.
年号／西暦変換 (Nengo-seireki convertor)
A tool to help you convert a Japanese year with nengo to a Western year. (Works for Edo period and later).
太陰暦・太陽暦変換 (Lunar-Solar calendar convertor)
Converts a lunar-calendar date to a solar-calendar date. Also works backwards.

記号の読み方
How to read/pronounce punctuation marks and other marks and signs in Japanese.
図・表・グラフ等の読み方
Describing charts and graphs in Japanese.
JR線　読み方辞典
How to read/pronounce train station names. (JR lines)
民営鉄道（ＪＲ以外）　読み方辞典
How to read/pronounce train station names. (non-JR, private sector lines)
年号（元号）の読み方
How to read/pronounce nengo (era designations in the Japanese year).
歴代天皇と御陵の読み方
How to read/pronounce names of Japanese emperors and the names of their tombs.
色名読み方辞典
How to read/pronounce Japanese color names.
アルファベット略語読み方辞典
Pronunciation guides to acronyms. (May be useful for looking up acronyms of Japanese organizations).
日本の読み方
How to read/pronounce 日本 (Nihon vs. Nippon). * Note that in library catalogs 日本 is always transliterated as "Nihon," unless the word is a part of a specific corporation/organization name that calls itself "Nippon" something.
郵便番号検索 (地名の読み方)
The postal code look up tool from the Japan Post supplies reading/pronunciation for place names (if currently in use as a residential address).
かぞえるんぞう
Look up/learn proper counter words (counters) used in Japanese.

Japan Statistical Yearbook
Statistics Bureau of Japan publishes the comprehensive and systematic summary of basic statistical information of Japan annually, covering wide-ranging fields such as Land, Population, Economy, Society, Culture, and so on.
Statistics Japan
総務省統計局 (Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication of Japan)
Gender statistics database
女性と男性に関する統計データベース
Ministry of Finance Statistics
財務省統計情報
Bank of Japan Statistics
日本銀行統計データ
Social Science Japan Data Archive (University of Tokyo)
東京大学社会科学研究所社会調査・データアーカイブ研究センター
JETRO Statistics
Trade statistics from JETRO (日本貿易振興機構)
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Statistics
厚生労働統計一覧
Public Opinion Poll data (NHK)
NHK放送文化研究所世論調査ファイル
Public Opinion Poll (National Government Cabinet Office)
内閣府世論調査

漢字ペディア (Kanji-pedia)
A free online dictionary for looking up kanji and exploring colloquial uses of kanji in words and phrases.
Kanji alive
A searchable aid for learning to read and write kanji in Japanese language (by Harumi Hibino Lory & Arno Bosse, Chicago University)
Kanji Converter
An online tool to convert texts and Websites (that contain kanji) to Romaji or Hiragana.
Japanese Kanji Dictionary
A free, online dictionary of kanji

ReaD & Researchmap
A directory of Japanese scholars with their research interests and projects.