Interview with Taro Yamamoto, Chief of the Historical Records Preparation Office, Kurashiki City
Taro Yamamoto, Chief of the Historical Records Preparation Office, General Affairs Division, General Affairs Department, General Affairs Bureau, Kurashiki City, has been involved in preserving and utilizing historical records for more than 30 years.
Yamamoto is a “certified archivist,” recognized by the National Archives of Japan for his expertise.
We spoke with Yamamoto about his work of “connecting records of the past and present to the future.”
Could you tell us how you came to work in this field?
Yamamoto (honorific omitted)
I majored in Japanese history at university, and joined the city office as a general administrative employee. When the Municipal History Compilation Office was established in 1990, I believe I was assigned there because I was “an employee who had studied Japanese history.” I have been involved in this field ever since.
Normally, work at city hall is handed down from senior colleagues, but at the time there were no senior colleagues in this field. I established new areas that Kurashiki City had not previously done much work in, such as “preserving historical public records” and “collecting old documents,” and developed them step by step.
I find the work very rewarding and enjoyable.
How should people who want to use the materials go about finding them?
Yamamoto
We make our catalogues available to the public, but I think it can be quite difficult to find materials relevant to what you want to research if you are not used to it.
For that reason, we often receive inquiries such as, “I want to research this topic. Do you have any materials?” We have specialist staff here, so we also help people search through our vast collection for materials that are as close as possible to what they are looking for.
How do you plan to pass these materials on to the future?
Yamamoto
Going forward, I believe it is important to establish a system that will make the historical materials we have collected easy for residents to use at any time and more accessible to them. Personally, I also see the future role of a public archives as one issue to consider.
We want to work with the relevant departments and gradually move forward with creating a system that will ensure the valuable records Kurashiki City is proud of are preserved for future generations in accordance with established rules.
The memories of Kurashiki’s past and present, passed on to the future
I had never known that Kurashiki had an office like this. I was also amazed by the many valuable materials. The many historical accounts are fascinating, and the disaster records serve as a warning by showing us what happened.
The Historical Records Preparation Office, Kurashiki City, operates an official X account. It introduces valuable materials, including photographs of Kurashiki Tivoli Park that have attracted a lot of attention, so be sure to take a look.
The “Kurashiki of today” in which we live, and the culture nurtured in the region, will eventually become part of history. I felt that the Historical Records Preparation Office plays a role in ensuring they do not disappear, but are delivered to the future hundreds of years from now.
Historical Records Preparation Office, Kurashiki City Information
| Name | Historical Records Preparation Office, Kurashiki City |
|---|---|
| Address | 1141-1 Yata, Mabi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, 3rd floor, Kurashiki City Mabi Branch Office |
| Contact | Phone: 086-698-8151 Email: hisedit@city.kurashiki.okayama.jp |
| Parking | Available |
| Opening hours | 【Office hours】 9:00 a.m.–5:15 p.m. 【Hours for requesting materials】 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Closed | Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays Year-end and New Year holidays |
| Admission (tax included) | Free ※ Copies made using the photocopier cost 10 yen per page |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted Advance reservations are preferred, but not required |
| Website | Kurashiki City Historical Records Preparation Office |
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