The Japan-Australia Bilateral Cooperation in Archival Processing forthe Wartime Seized Company Records
Ms. Junko AKIYAMAArchivist
Sapporo City Archives

Collaborative research with;

Dr. Hanako WADA
Gakushuin University
Dr. Hideyoshi YAGASHIRO
Senshu University

Mr. Daisuke ICHIKAWA
Professor, Hokkai Gakuen University
Dr. Masahito ANDO
Gakushuin University

Dr. Hisayuki OSHIMA
Takachiho University【Abstract】
This paper looks at the records of Australian-based Japanese companies seized by the Australian
government during World War II, and are currently held by the National Archives of Australia(NAA). By tracing the collection’s formation process and examining recent joint efforts between
Japan and Australia to arrange and put these records to good use, it chronicles a definitive shift in therelationship of the two countries, whereby the records symbolize developing friendship. This paper
addresses two key issues. It first discusses the actual process of how this collection of the wartime
requisitioned documents was formed and transferred to the custody of the NAA, with reference tothe political and diplomatic backgrounds as well as its current legal status. Secondly, it explains
about a joint project of Japanese and Australian archivists and historians to arrange and utilize theserecords, an endeavor initiated in 2003 and still in progress. The outcomes of their work have alreadybeen utilized in the NAA activities. In the coming years, with the aim to foster shared memories andreconciliation between Japan and Australia, further collaboration is expected to take place over thiscollection for improvement in various fields including archival description and user access. In thissense, the paper illustrates an important shift whereby an archival collection born from an enemy
relationship (wartime requisition) has become a symbol of friendship through the cooperative effortsof archivists and historians from the two nations. It also presents a remarkable example of how
archivists from a country of the seized documents’ origin could be instrumental in arranging therecords held by the seizing country. Through this process, we hope to show archivists playing a vitalrole in reconciliation between once-rival nations—and perhaps in advancement towards world peace.
【Biography】
Ms. Junko AKIYAMA's current position is Archivist at the Sapporo City Archives. She holds
bachelor's and master's degrees in history from the the Ochanomizu University and finished adoctoral program in history without dissertation at Ochanomizu. She also has rich teachingexperience at various institutions such as the Tokai University and the Hokusei Gakuen University.
Her scholarly contributions include "Arrangement and Description of a Japanese Business Collection
Held at the National Archives of Australia," Journal of the Japan Society for Archival Science 8(2008): 2-20; and "The Establishment of Sapporo City Archives: Activities and Subjects in theOpening Year," Records Management: Journal of the Records Management Society of Japan 67(2014): 91-103.

30

CONTENTS

The Japan-Australia
Bilateral Cooperation

Introduction
1 Characteristics of the Documents of Japanese Companies’ Records Seized During Wartimeand Background of Their Establishment
1.1 Overview of the Records
1.2 Development of Japan-Australia Trades
1.3 The Outbreak of the Second World War and the Wartime Seizure

in Archival Processing
for the Wartime Seized Company
Records

2 Japan-Australian cooperative projectwith the purpose of archival processing and promotion of the use of company records
2.1 A History of the Japan-Australian Cooperative Project
2.2 Archiving and creating descriptions by the Japanese team
2.3 Achievements of the Cooperative Project

Reported by: Junko Akiyama , Hanako Wada, Daisuke Ichikawa, Hisayuki Oshima,Hideyoshi Yagashiro, and Masahito Ando

Conclusion –Development of our new friendship-Company's name

Totalboxes

SP1096/1

Mitsubishi Shoji (Melb.）

97

SP1096/2

Mitsui Bussan （Melb.）

18

SP1096/3

John Mitchell

5

SP1096/4

Iida & Co,
Mitsui Bussan（Melb.）

47

SP1098/4

Mitsui Bussan

324

SP1098/7
SP1098/8
SP1098/9
SP1098/10
SP1098/11
SP1098/12

Araki & Co,
Yamashita & Co.
Okura
Mitsubishi Shoji
Yano & Joko
Nosawa & Co.

Series No.

1.1 Overview ofthe Records

1. Characteristics of the Documents ofJapanese Companies’ Records

SP1096/5

 Held by National Archives ofAustralia (NAA) Sydney

Seized During Wartime
and Background of Their Establishment（as of Sept. 2016）
 Quantity︓c. 800m
 TOTAL : 3,327 boxes

440366461126318(+13)

SP1098/13

Japan Cotton Trading

170

SP1098/15
SP1098/16
SP1101/1

Kikugumi
Iida & Co.
Mitsui Bussan

844475

SP1099/1-247 Yokohama Specie BankTOTAL

1.1 Overview of
the Records
Series based on Japanese Companies
 SP1096/*

Companies in SP1098/*

Companies in SYDNEYMELBOURNE
 SP1101/1

Mitsui Bussan (Syd.) SP1099/*Yokohama Specie Bank

Company's name

Totalboxes

SP1096/1

Mitsubishi Shoji (Melb.）

97

SP1096/2
SP1096/3

Mitsui Bussan （Melb.）

185

SP1096/4
SP1096/5

Iida & Co,
Mitsui Bussan（Melb.）

47

SP1098/4

Mitsui Bussan

324

SP1098/7
SP1098/8
SP1098/9
SP1098/10
SP1098/11
SP1098/12
SP1098/13

Araki & Co,
Yamashita & Co.
Okura
Mitsubishi Shoji
Yano & Joko
Nosawa & Co.
Japan Cotton Trading

SP1098/15
SP1098/16
SP1101/1

Kikugumi
Iida & Co.
Mitsui Bussan

Series No.

John Mitchell

Japanese Companies’ Records Letters & Correspondences

31440366461126318(+13)
170844475

SP1099/1-247 Yokohama Specie Bank
TOTAL

1050
3,327

31311050
3,327

Japanese Companies’ Records

Japanese Companies’ Records

 Shipping Documents

 Ledgers & Journals

Japanese Companies’ Records

Japanese Companies’ Records

 Statements of Accounts

 Code Books

 Shipping Schedules & Tariff Lists

 Minutes books of Directors’ Meetings

Japanese Companies’ Records

Japanese Companies’ Records
 Personal Documents

 Textile Samples

32

1.3 The Outbreak of the Second World War andthe Wartime Seizure

1.2 Development of Japan-Australia trades andthe advance of Japanese companies to Australia
 Japan-Australia trades: Wool + Various Japanese products In 1889

 1941.12

Kanematsu began business in Australia

the Outbreak of the Second World War⇒the Australian government began to seize→Trading Companies opened branches : Mitsui, Mitsubishi etc.

assets of the Japanese companies in Australia＊the Trading with the Enemy Act（1939） During W.W.I

the Trade environment improved:

the Executive Agency: the Controller of Enemy Property＊National Security (Enemy Property) Regulations ofYokohama Specie Bank /Regular shipping line
Medium-to-small-sized trading companies:
Exporting various types of Japanese products

the National Security Act of 1939

◆The records in the office were seized
as a part of the assets of Japanese companies

 By 1930’ Japan-Australia trade relations developed significantly

 1957the records were Transferred to NAA

Japanese companies: Advance to major cities all over Australia＊Wada（2011）

2.1 A History of the Japan-AustralianCooperative Project 2002

2. Japan-Australian Cooperative Project

the Research on archives in Australia

conducted by Masahito ANDO
＊NAA︓Introduction of the Japanese companies’ records

with the Purpose of Archival Processing andPromotion of the Use of Company Records

Suggestion the collaborative work on archiving
 2003

Setting up the Japan-Australian Cooperative Project Japanese Team︓

Dispatched a research team of archivists and historians to NAA
 NAA︓Organized a special training program on archival arrangement &description for the Project members（Canberra/Sydney）

2.1 A History of the Japan-Australian
Cooperative Project2.1 A History of the Japan-Australian
Cooperative Project 2004-2016

the Research continued every year
→Sharing the information & descriptions＊Arrangement & Description Exercise using Nosawa RecordsNAAJapanese Team• Provision of informationon acceptances &arrangements• Research on thecompany histories• Cleaning & Provisional
measures 2004-2016• Box contents lists• Series Descriptions

A New Project to Donate Records to & Accept
at the NAJ

the Research continued every year33

2.2 Archiving and creating descriptions bythe Japanese team＊Sample）Box Contents ListNational Archives of Australia Japanese Company Records Box Contents List (Mitsui)

Existing Descriptions

DateRange

Number ofItems

CompanySeries no.

Box no.

Mitsui

SP1098/4

258

Mitsui

SP1098/4

259

1

Mitsui

SP1098/4

259

2⇒Our Policies on Creating Descriptions

Mitsui

SP1098/4260

 Simple list of items for each box

Mitsui

SP1098/4

261

1[Shipping Documents]

1938-1939 19 envelops

 description of the series focused on

Mitsui

SP1098/4

261

2[Shipping Documents]

1938

Mitsui

SP1098/4

262[Shipping Documents]

1937-1939 27 bundles

 outline descriptions for each series
 partial description of contents＊Pam Oliver(2004)

 the Agency of these series: the Controller of Enemy Property

 the characteristics of the document structure (the wartime seizure records)

Mitsui the organizational history of each company

 Publishing by the NAA as guidance

SP1098/4

Title/Description
Daily Reports

263

1

Mitsui

SP1098/4

263

2

Mitsui

SP1098/4

264

Note

OriginalCreator

1938

23 filesContract File Sydney No.30A

1939

1 vol.

Contract File Sydney No.31

1039-1940 1 vol.

Mitsubishi

Contract File1937-1938 1 failes

Mitsubishi[Sales Note]

Mitsubishi

1cm

1939

1 vol.

Shipping documents

1938

6 cm

Sales Note

1938-1940 1 file

Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi＊Sample）Series Description

Miscellaneous records of Yano and Joko, pre 1941 records

2.3 Achievements of the Cooperative Project

Reference Code: SP1098/11
Title: Miscellaneous records of Yano and Joko, pre 1941 records
Name of Creator: Yano & Joko

1) Analyzing the seizing process

Scope and Content Note:
Date︓ 1919-1941
Extent: 18.36 meters (63 boxes)

 Criterion for determining the subjects of seizure :Ratio of stock holding by JapaneseThis series was created by Yano & Joko, and contains documents as follows:
Shipping Documents, Contract Notes, Tax Returns, Letters, Consignment Books, and Textile Samples.
* Please note that some records of Mitsubishi & Co. Ltd. and of "Dogyo-kai" (Japanese Woolbuyers' Association, of which Yano& Joko was not a member ) are also present in this series.

・John Mitchell︓actually owned by Koto Shokai →Seizure

Administrative History:

・Kanematsu / Ide Shoten︓

Yano & Joko was established as a general partnership company ( paid-in capital : 1 million yen) in June 1908 by Hanjiro Yanoand Nobuhiro Joko. Its headquarters was located in Yamashitacho, Yokohama City. The forerunner of the company wasMorinogawa Gomei Kaisha (Morinogawa General Partnership Company) founded by Hanjiro Yano and Kanesuke Moriyama inJune 1893. …

management transferred to the Australians→Not subject of the Seizure

References:
Chukichi, Morita. Kaiko 50-nen Kinen Yokohama Seiko Meiyokagami (Success and honors of Yokohama, commemorating the50th anniversary of the opening of the Yokohama port. ). Yokohama: Yokohama Shokyo Shinpo-sha, 1910. …

＊Ichikawa（2007）／ Wada（2011）

2.3 Achievements of
the Cooperative Project

2.3 Achievements of the Cooperative Project1) Analyzing the seizing process

2) Characteristics analysis of
the documents structure “Mixed” records created and stored by other companies
 “Mixed” cases confirmed (as of 2016) The unique structure due to the seizure “Swallowed” German company’s srecords

Series No.

Company of Series Companies’ branch records

Original Creator of “Mixed” Records

SP1098/4

Mitsui Bussan

Mitsubishi Shoji

SP1098/7

Araki Company

Heinrich Lanz (H. Tronser), Mitsubishi Shoji

SP1098/8

YamashitaSP1098/9

Okura Trading Records normally not stored for a long timeMitsubishi Shoji

SP1098/11

Yano & Joko

Mitsubishi Shoji（Japanese Woolbuyers’ Association）

SP1101/1

Mitsui Bussan

Yamashita, Mitsubishi Shoji, Japan Cotton Trading,
Okura Trading, Iida & Co.

“Currently in use” documents＊Akiyama（2008）

Araki Co., Z. Horikoshi & Co.
High value in historical analysis→a number of achievements published34

UNSETTLED

2.3 Achievements of the Cooperative Project3) Maintaining box contents lists andseries description
 Box contents lists: 90% completed⇒(as of 2015)
Complete all lists in 2016

Descriptions by
NAA[GovernmentRecords]

Conclusion–Development of Our New Friendship- Series descriptions:

Scheduled to complete in the coming years
 Provide to NAA & NAJ

Descriptions by
Japanese Team
【JapaneseCompanies’ Records】

Conclusion

Conclusion–Development of Our New Friendship-–Development of Our New FriendshipTheWartimeSeizure 2015

NAA’s proposal to transfer this collection to Japan 2016 Starting the project
to donate records to & accept at the NAJ

NAA＊2012 the unearthing of the Australians victim list of“Montevideo Maru”＊References:Junko, AKIYAMA. "Arrangement and description of a Japanese business collection held at the National
Archives of Australia". Journal of the Japan Society for Archival Science, No.8, March 2008

Daisuke, ICHIKAWA. "Backgrounds and Characteristics of the seized Japanese companies’ records held at
the National Archives of Australia". Achievements from the Grants-in-Aid for ScientificResearch(KAKENHI) Program "Research toward the establishment of the foundation of historicalinformation resource systems and international archival networks",Project Number:1522015, 2007

Pam Oliver "ALLIES, ENEMIES AND TRADING PARTNERS –Records on Australia and Japanese-".NAA, 2004

NAJ

 The Friendships Further Strengthened bythe Sharing of Memories→Promote understanding between the two countries

Hanako, Wada. "Taiheiyo Senso no Kaisento Zaigo Nikkei Kigyo Kiroku ( The Outbreak of the Pacific War
and the Records of Japanese Companies in Australia ) ". Rekishi Hyoron, No. 739, November 2011

JapaneseTeamNewFriendship The Reconciliation through the Records
Developed by the Bilateral Cooperation＊the Sharing of Wartime Records

The Japan-Australia
Bilateral
Cooperation

35