The book North Pacific: Japan Siberia, Alaska, Canada by Edward Weber Allen has an entertaining story of the author’s visits to several libraries in Japan back in the 1930s. The chapter is called “libraries” and appears from pages 232 to 236. One part that struck me was the author’s inability to view maps of Japan (pgs 232-233):
I was shown the general reading rooms, catalog room, etc. When, however, I requested my guide to show me the choice collection of old Japanese maps, which I had understood the library possessed, he smiled, bowed, and showed me another floor of the stack room and some commonplace books. Expostulation with my friend and another conference between him and our guide merely resulted in our ascending to another floor of stacks. This little farce was repeated several times. At last all of us appreciated the futility of the situation. Then our guide led the way to his office for tea and cigarettes. He explained that the custodian of the maps was not well that day. No one else could show them. He was very sorry. It was regrettable. I knew that he lied, and he knew that I knew that he lied. But I didn’t see the maps.
On subsequent cross-examination of my university friend, he reluctantly admitted that such an unusual request had caused me to be viewed with great suspicion. I was unable to elicit any explanation of the reasons behind this apprehension concerning my motives. Surely, ancient maps would divulge no secret military information.
Government information access — problems exist in many lands and at many times.
Filed under: history, librarians, libraries | Tagged: Japan, Maps
