(Note: This project is a revision of Part V. of Ch. 2 (Modern Japanese History I: Basic Bibliography") for "Bib95," and may be found also at that location.)

Searching for newspaper articles can be a very frustrating experience.  Does hopelessly scrolling through roll after roll of microfilm sound fun?  If one wisely uses the bibliographic tools for Japanese newspapers, the process will be much easier if not enjoyable.  The most important piece of information is too know the approximate date of the article(s) you are looking for, because all the newspaper bibliographies are arranged chronologically, and some are poorly indexed.  The more precise the date the better, but with some topically indexed compilations you can get away without knowing this information.  Whether you know the approximate date or not, the best compendia to start with is the nyûsu jiten, multi-volume publications that cover the Meiji, Taisho and Showa periods. These are well indexed by subject and article title, and quite extensive.  (Needless to say, all newspaper compendia are a limited selection of articles from past various newspapers not a reproduction of every article from every newspaper.)  Don’t forget to consider various subject titles for your topic.  The predecessor to the nyûsu jiten, but not as accessible is the Shinbun shûsei.  This multi-volume sets cover also cover Meiji, Taisho and Showa, but other than the Meiji volumes which are indexed by subject for the entire period in volume 15, if you don’t have a good idea of the date of the appropriate article, you will have to wade through the chronologically arranged list of article titles at the start of each annual volume.

For the Showa period, there are three additional options.  For post-1945 articles in the Asahi shimbun, one search the database in Starr, or use the print version housed in the reference area.  For articles in a variety of newspapers for early Showa (ending in 1952), see the Shimbun shusei Shôwashi no shôgen, a compilation of articles from over 300 newspapers.  For the entire period in a single volume, see Shôwashi zenkiroku: chronicle 1926-1989.

Meiji nyûsu jiten. 9 vols. Mainichi komyunikeshonzu, 1983-1986. Call no.: REF DS 881.987 .M44

The articles for Meiji are mainly from the Tokyo nichinichi shimbun, the forerunner of the Mainichi and the oldest newspaper in Japan.  Each volume covers several years and is organized by subject, in gojûon order.  Within each subject entry, articles are listed chronologically, and each appears in its entirety.  Articles are changed gendai kanazukai, unfortunately, dropping furigana in the process, but on the other hand making them far more legible.  Volume 9 contains cumulated indexes to the whole set by article topic (political, economic, social, regional) and exact article title, an index to the numerous photographs, and even an article for advertisements.

Taisho nyûsu jiten. 8 vols. Mainichi komyunikeshonzu, 1986-89.
Call no.: REF DS 885.87 .T13

The format is the same as the Meiji volumes above.  The Taisho index is in volume 8.

Shôwa nyûsu jiten. 9 vols. Mainichi komyunikeshonzu, 1990-94.
Call no.: DS 888.2 S5113 1990

Also, the same format as the above Meiji volumes.  The index can be found in volume 8.

Shimbun shûsei Meiji hennenshi. Meiji Taishô Shôwa kenkyûkai. 15 vols. Orig. 1934-36. Reduced-size reprint, Honpô shoseki, 1982.
Call no.: REF. DS882 S48 1982

Shimbun shûsei Taishô hennenshi. Meiji Taishô Shôwa kenkyûkai, ed. 1966 ff. 15 kan in 47 volumes.
Call no.: DS886 .S47

Shimbun shûsei Shôwa hennenshi. Meiji Taishô Shôwa kenkyûkai. 1955-89.
Call no.: 210.8 T13

Starr only has volumes 5-11, 24 for Showa.

Shimbun shûsei Shôwashi no shôgen. 29 vols. Honpô Shoseki, 1983-94.
Call no.: DS 888.2 S56

A compilation of articles from over 300 newspapers in the Showa period up to 1945.  The set is arranged chronologically with subject index in the beginning of each volume.  Unfortunately, the subject listings are very general and the cumulative index in volume is based on the headlines, making this set less easy to use unless you are searching for specific dates.

Shôwashi zenkiroku: chronicle 1926-1989. The Editorial Committee. Mainichi, 1989.
Call no.: REF DS 888.2 .S572 1989.

A one-volume compilation of news articles covering 1926-1983. It is arranged chronologically with some full-length articles, and the lists of other notable events and what is calls “memory” or cultural and sub-cultural events. Lots of photos and lots of to simply browse, and the index is good.