Response from Japan National Archives

January 15, 2020

Kato Takeo
Director
Japan National Archives
Dear Mr. Sugihara Seishiro:

Thank you very much for your regular use of Japan National Archives and Japan Center for Asian Historical Records.

Regarding your Open Letter dated December 10, 2019, delivered to us by contents-certified mail concerning the Special Internet Exhibit “Archives Reveal Diplomatic Negotiation Between Japan and the United States—the process leading to the outbreak of the War,” we are sorry and sincerely apologize for the delay in answering to your letter.

Since “Archives Reveal Diplomatic Negotiation Between Japan and the United States” is a digital exhibit which Japan Center for Asian Historical Records produced in December 2005, it took us certain time to confirm the circumstance at the time retrospectively and we now have confirmed the fact at Japan Center for Asian Historical Records.

The mission of Japan Center for Asian Historical Records is not to interpret or evaluate specific historical facts, but to purely publish related records. The Special Internet Exhibit “Diplomatic Negotiation Between Japan and the United States” is also a digital exhibit with the aim to introduce some among records related to the diplomatic negotiation held in 1941 between Japan and the United States. With this aim, regarding “reference” related to the event, we mainly chose officially published materials and “memoirs and notes” of those directly concerned. Regarding other “academic and general books,” “individual papers” and “dictionaries,” we were told that the staff responsible for this Web exhibit listed only those sources he directly referred to or used in writing an introduction and other explanations to the exhibit.

We hope you will understand our response to your Open Letter and sincerely wish for your further understanding and cooperation with Japan National Archives and Japan Center for Asian Historical Records.
Sincerely yours,
Kato Takeo