About Asahi Shimbun Cross-Search

"Asahi Shimbun Cross-Search for Library" from the Asahi Shimbun Company is an online article database that permits easy investigation of past events, and is available in many universities and libraries both in and outside Japan. It is the largest newspaper article database in Japan, permitting searches of 16 million articles and advertisements from more than 140 years of the newspaper, from its first edition in 1879 (Meiji 12) to today. Most of the articles that can be searched using keywords in the Asahi Shimbun Reduced-size Facsimile Edition are from the newspaper editions published in Tokyo, but pages from the editions published in Osaka are also stored, so it is possible to compare the two editions with different content by searching on publication date. Articles since 1985 are available for full-text searching, and can be read with the full-text displayed. The database also contains articles from the magazines 'AERA' and 'Shukan Asahi'. Furthermore, the Historical Photo Archive, a database of approximately 10 thousand photographic records mostly taken in Asia during the World War II period, is available as well.
English-language News Database, Asahi Graph, Who's Who database, Image Database of Regional pages, Overseas Editions and Contemporary Words Chiezo are also available.

"History keyword" system is a distinctive feature of Asahi Shimbun Cross-Search, which is designed to efficiently search for the articles of the Meiji, the Taisho and the Showa periods. History keywords consist of selected major events of those days and names of historical figures as opposed to regular keywords given in the articles. By searching the database by history keywords, all relevant articles, even those which do not contain the very keywords, can be searched interrelatedly. In addition, a variety of history keyword lists (e.g. its chronological table and one organized by field of activity) further helps one's search. A click on a keyword on the lists is enough to retrieve all relevant information all at once.
"Asahi Shimbun Cross-Search for Library" is a repository of materials of modern Japanese history.

Basic contents

Full Text Database from 1985 to the present, Shukan Asahi, AERA

The latest news, as well as a menu for those searching current events. You can easily search in each edition of the Asahi Shimbun with the search criteria you require, such as complete keyword match, publication date and category.
All 46 prefectures of Japan are included, excluding Okinawa. Local news is at your fingertips in a moment.
Most of the Tokyo headquarters morning edition is searchable by 6:00 AM of that day. The evening edition is added by 7:00 PM of that day.

Image Database of Post-WWII Showa Period (1945-1989) and Heisei Period (1989-1999) of the Asahi Shimbun Reduced-size Facsimile Edition

The menu is designed for those wishing to retrace past news and do historical searches.
In addition to publication date and title, it is also possible to categorize searches based on names, places, and topical keywords. An image of the actual page from the time is viewable via a PDF file. Extra editions can be searched.

Contemporary Words Chiezo

Contains more than 8,000 contemporary terms.

Optional contents

The following contents will be an optional database accessible from only within Asahi Shimbun Cross-Search.

Image Database of Pre-war Showa Period (1926-1945) of the Asahi Shimbun Reduced-size Facsimile Edition

The database will contain 88,000 pages of The Asahi Shimbun as images for the early Showa period through the Great Depression to the Occupation just after the War. It is possible to do searches on advertisements.

Image Database of Meiji and Taisho Period (1879-1926) of the Asahi Shimbun Reduced-size Facsimile Edition

The database will contain 123,000 pages of The Asahi Shimbun between 1879, when the newspaper was first published as Osaka Asahi Shimbun, and in 1926 the end of the Taisho period. It is possible to do searches on advertisements.

Who's Who Database

Focusing on influential people from all areas, this Who's Who database covers a wide selection of financiers, politicians, researchers, cultural figures and athletes. The database will obtain over 35,000 entries.

Historical Photo Archive

More than 10,000 photographs are archived, the majority ranging from before and after the Manchurian Incident to after the defeat in war. As well as battlefield photographs, a great many shots are included of citizen's daily life.

Asahi Graph

Asahi Graph, a pictorial magazine established in 1923. Asahi Shimbun Cross-Search brings to the users a digital archive of images in color that appeared in approximately 2,000 issues up until 1956.

English-language News Database

The Asahi Shimbun Company has just created a database of its English-language newspapers. You are able to perform a full-text search of articles published in the "The International Herald Tribune/The Asahi Shimbun (the IHT/Asahi)" and "AJW (Asia & Japan Watch)" dating back to April 2001.

Image Database of Regional pages -1999

Although the date range varies by prefecture, generally, the local news pages of Asahi Shimbun from 1935 to 1999 can be searched and viewed from the date of publication. An image of the actual page from the time is viewable via a PDF file.

Overseas Editions

This menu is for those who want to search events and history of Taiwan, Korea, China, and former Manchuria (Northeastern China) during the war.
Although the date range varies by Regins, generally, the Regional news pages of Asahi Shimbun from 1935 to 1945 can be searched and viewed from the date of publication. An image of the actual page from the time is viewable via a PDF file.

Usage fee

Basic Annual Fee(not including consumption tax)

  • Asahi Shimbun from 1985 to present, Shukan Asahi, AERA
  • Asahi Shimbun Reduced-size Facsimile Edition (post-war Showa period 1945 to 1989 and Heisei period 1989 to 1999.)
  • Contemporary Words Chiezo
1 access \312,000

Optional Contetens Annual Fee per access(not including consumption tax)

Who's Who Database \36,000
Historical Photo Archive \36,000
Asahi Graph \36,000
English-language News Database \36,000
Pre-war 1926 to 1945 Database \84,000
Meiji + Taisho Era Database \84,000
Premium Value Pack (including all the above) \168,000
Image Database of Regional pages \72,000
Overseas Editions \48,000
  • This is the fee for libraries, educational and other academic institutions.

For inquiries and questions

The Asahi Shimbun Database Support