An essential part of our project involves collecting research materials. Of particular interest are the publications of the Japanese occupation period, as there are few good collections of those research materials, and what exists is underutilized. Surprisingly, in Japan, there are no substantial collections of Indonesian language periodicals, a lacuna which we are endeavoring to remedy.
Our hope is that in compiling substantial runs, we can preserve this precious heritage, and at the same time as we utilize it for our project, to make it available to researchers and others interested in the past though republication in paper form or though digitalization.
Below are some of the types of materials which been collected by our researchers.
- Newspapers
- Asia Raya — We have collected a substantial number of issues of the most important wartime Indonesian language newspaper.
- Kung Yung Pao — A newspaper for the Chinese community on Java, a Malay edition and a Chinese language edition were publi
shed. A small number of the Malay edition paper has been collected. - Pembangoen — A Jakarta based newspaper which is extremely hard to locate. More than 250 issues from 1942-3 have been collected and present an excellent alternative source of news.
- Pewarta Perniagaan — A very rare Surabaya based newspaper, complementing the better known Soeara Asia. Only a small number of issues have been located.
- Sinar Baroe — The Semarang based newspaper which lasted throughout the occupation period. Around 150 issues have been collected so far.
- Soeara Asia — The Suraba
ya daily is hard to locate, but we have collected a small number of the issues, helping to complement the other newspapers.
Regional Javanese language newspapers — Published on a weekly basis by the Syuu level administration, these were published in regional languages, most commonly Javanese, but sometimes Madurese or another language. We have a few dozen issues from Surabaya, Besuki, Malang, Bojonegoro and Madiun.
- Magazines
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- Pandji Poestaka — The important prewar publication of the Balai Poestaka continued to appear in the occupation, and we have collected a substantial num
ber of the 1942-3 issues. - Soeara MIAI — A periodical for the official Muslim organization, we have a small run of badly damaged, disorganized issues.
- Pandji Poestaka — The important prewar publication of the Balai Poestaka continued to appear in the occupation, and we have collected a substantial num
- Other publications — In addition to the periodicals mentioned above, we have collected more than 130 other publications from Indonesia during the war. Naturally, publications from Japan and elsewhere are important, and publications from before and after the war are essential to our project, but the wartime period occupies a special position.
