Research Guide to Japan

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Searching Japanese Titles:
All cataloged Japanese materials are searchable in the Columbia University Libraries' online catalog, CLIO. In searching Japanese titles in CLIO, you have to use the Modified Hepburn romanization System. There are old catalog card files still existing at the East Asian Library. However, the catalog cards have not been updated since 1981, therefore, they are not useful for finding any current titles.

Locating Materials:
Locations of books and journals are indicated in CLIO. Reference books and current journals are located in the reading room. Approximately sixty percent of the East Asian collections are housed at the East Asian Library by call number, with Japanese materials inter-shelved with Chinese, Korean, Tibetan, and Western language materials. The rest of the materials are located at the offsite facilities: ReCAP, from which you can request materials on line, and Prentis. Materials will be moved from Prentis to ReCAP in the course of the current academic year (2002-2003). Books in Kent cataloged in the Nippon Decimal System, in which call numbers start with numbers rather than letters, are shelved on the 250 level.

Electronic Resources
The Library subscribes to three Japan related online databases: Nichigai: MAGAZINEPLUS, a large journal articles database; Nichigai: WHO, a bio-bibliographical database; Netto de Hyakka, Heibonsha's encyclopedia; and the Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan Online. Online databases are accessible through LibraryWeb, under Electronic Resources, as well as through the East Asian Library's homepage. Major CD-ROMs consist of Meiji, Taisho, Showa zenki Yomiuri Shinbun (126 CDs), and the journal Taiyo (77 CDs).