The germ of modern-archives in Japan

Records administration systems in the Meiji era

Abstract

This paper discusses the circumstances which did not permit archive systems to develop in the Meiji era,the period when the feudal age finished and modern administrative organization started. It analyzes the governmentʼs concept of public records.

Based on an assumption that our modern record administration system has its roots in the Meiji era, the paper tries to establish whether, however, there was any evidence of the birth of the concept of modern archives by undertaking a chronological examination of changes in governmental attitudes towards records administration. The paper also discusses whether it might have been possible for the development of any archival theory in the Meiji era.