Method (A) is to edit and publish them in their entirety, like selling vegetables in their natural state at the greengrocer's.
Method (B) is to arrange chopped historical materials with short outlines in chronological order, as in preparing a set of necessary ingredients for quick cooking.
Nos. 1, 5, 6, 7, and 10 of the publications listed below are compiled by method B, while Nos. 2, 3, 4, 15, and 16, on the whole, are composed by method A.
Nos. 1 and 2 are two of the largest compilations ever produced in Japan.
Method (C), reproducing historical materials in collotype or in photogravure is intended to show the text in its original form. In methods A and B, brush written, abbreviated characters are converted to standard modern characters and set in type. Method C is necessary for more advanced and accurate studies.
Nos. 11, 12, 13, and 17 are such reproductions with explanatory notes.
The following items are reference works:
2. Dai-Nihon Komonjo
Old documents of Japan including Bakumatsu Gaikoku Kankei Monjo(Documents relating to foreign affairs in the last days of the Tokugawa shogunate. 193 vols.
3. Dai-Nihon Kokiroku
Old diaries of Japan. 93 vols.
4. Dai-Nihon Kinsei Shiryo
Historical materials of the Edo period. 113 vols.
5. Dai-Nihon Ishin Shiryo
Historical materials of the Meiji Restoration, 1846-1871. 38 vols.
6. Shiryo Soran
Headings and titles of materials extracted from the manuscripts of the Dai-Nihon Shiryo. 17 vols.*
7. Ishin Shiryo Koyo
Headings and titles of materials extracted from the manuscripts of the Dai-Nihon Ishin Shiryo. 10 vols.*
8. Kao Kagami
Genuine signatures: reference work for historical studies. 4 vols.
9. Tokushi Biyo
Handbook for the study of Japanese history. l vol.*
10. Fukko Ki
Records of the Meiji Restoration, 1867-1869. 15 vols.*
11. Komonjo Jidai Kagami
Standard specimens of Old documents of Japan. 480 plates in 4 portfolios.*
12. Ho-Taiko Shinseki Shu
Materials in the Hand of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his family. 2 vols.*
13. Kokan Shuei
Collotype reproductions of old manuscript copies. 270 plates.
14. Historical documents relating to Japan in foreign countries
Microfilm inventory. 15 vols.
15. Nihon Kankei Kaigai Shiryo
Historical documents in foreign languages relating to Japan. 31 vols.
16. Hogohiroi: Sasaki Takayuki Nikki
Diary of Sasaki Takayuki. 18 vols.*
17. Echigo-no-Kuni Gun-Ezu
Country sketch-maps of Echigo province. 3 vols.*
18. Shosoin Monjo Mokuroku
An inventory of the documents of the Shosoin. 3 vols.
19. Nihon Shoen Ezu Shuei
Collected maps of Japanese estates of the ancient and medieval eras. 4 vols.
21. Tokyo Daigaku Shiryo Hensan-jo Kiyo
Tokyo Daigaku Shiryo Hensan-jo annual report. 7 vols.
22. Tokyo Daigaku Shiryo Hensan-jo Photograph drapery Catalogue
A catalogue of the photograph drapery which organized historical records which collected by a photograph. 4 vols.
The first two series, Dai-Nihon Shiryo and Dai-Nihon Komonojo, are the two largest compilations ever produced in Japan.