There is a profession whose members choose which archival materials should be handed down to future generations as assets belonging communally to the public from the huge amount of official documents that are produced day-to-day. It is hoped that human resources capable of this duty will be utilized to promote awareness of how important it is to carefully keep records.
The government has established a system to officially certify archivists, or experts in the management of public documents.
Archivists examine official documents and administrative papers to determine whether they should be preserved. They also sort out documents received from government offices and provide them to users according to their needs. Moreover, these professionals are required to organize intelligible exhibitions and to digitize materials.
Certification of archivists will be handled by the president of the National Archives of Japan. It plans to accredit about 1,000 people by fiscal 2026 from among those who have studied specialized fields at graduate schools or other institutions, or those who have gained a certain level of work experience.
Museum curators and librarians have been recognized via national qualifications. When it comes to archivists, however, a shortage of capable human resources has been pointed out because only recognition systems run by the private sector are available. It can be described as a step forward that the government has started serious efforts to secure and nurture specialists.
Another issue is the introduction of a system that would recognize those with limited practical experience as "junior archivists" and those with advanced expertise as "senior archivists." This profession must eventually be made one with a national qualification. Moreover, an easy-to-understand Japanese translation of the word "archivist" is surely necessary to help the profession become established as a regular part of life in the minds of the public.
Archivists have not taken root in Japan, unlike in Europe and North America, partly because government organizations and politicians lack awareness of the importance of managing public documents.
The Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been hit by the Finance Ministry's falsification of documents to approve the sale of state-owned land to school operator Moritomo Gakuen, among other incidents. Sloppy management of public documents can only destroy public confidence in the government.
In many cases, officials with limited expertise are in charge of keeping records at government offices. In the future, consideration should be given to establishing a scheme under which certified archivists will manage documents.
It is essential to make administrative bodies to fully aware that they should fulfill their accountability to the public through appropriately managing and disclosing public documents.
It is also important to expand employment opportunities for archivists by increasing the number of graduate schools with specialized programs and improving the training system. It is hoped that an environment will be established for archivists to play an active role in the private sector as well, thus creating a virtuous circle in which talented people will aspire to the profession.
A new building for the National Archives of Japan is scheduled to open in fiscal 2026. The facility will reportedly exhibit the originals of historical documents and related materials, while also being staffed by archivists, who will serve as guides to visitors to answer to their questions and provide advice.
It is hoped that the new complex will serve as a place for politicians and public servants to enhance their understanding of the significance for keeping records, as well as for the public to take an interest in this subject.
-- The original Japanese article appeared in The Yomiuri Shimbun on July 10, 2020.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
