Osaka Labor Archive, Research library in Chūō-ku, Japan
The Osaka Labor Archive is a research library located on the fourth floor of the EL Osaka building in Chūō-ku. Its collections contain extensive materials on labor movements, including documents, publications, and historical records spanning different periods.
The archive was founded in 2008 and brought together collections from two earlier institutions: the Osaka Prefecture Labor Information Plaza and the Osaka Social Movement Resource Center. This merger created a single location for researching labor movements in the region.
The archive holds collections related to the labor movement, including worker literature, strike documents, and materials from social movements. These collections show how working conditions and labor relations have changed in Japan and how people have organized to fight for their rights.
The facility is reachable from Tenmabashi and Kitahama stations, and visitors can search for specific materials through the online catalog before arriving. It is helpful to identify materials in advance to make your research time more efficient.
The archive received a Library of the Year award in 2016 for its community engagement model. This model is supported by contributions from people across the country, showing how a specialized archive can have both regional and national importance.
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