CIE Libraries Supporting the Development of Psychology During the Allied Occupation in Japan (1945–1952)

Abstract

During the Allied occupation of Japan after the Second World War, the Civil Information and Educational Section (CIE) Libraries played an important role in providing new foreign books and journals in the field of psychology. This paper first gives an overview of the history of psychology in Japan around the time of the Second World War. Subsequently, important excerpts from an oral history with Japanese psychologists are presented. Finally, based on information from this oral history, a survey of the books on psychology in the CIE Yokohama Library was conducted. Results of the survey indicate that CIE Libraries offered foreign books on topics in applied psychology, such as clinical psychology. The opportunities provided by this library had a profound impact on psychological study and practice in Japan. As many materials from this period are missing, including all books and journals from the CIE Hibiya Library, further research should include oral history from psychologists who visited these libraries.Key words: CIE Library, oral history, history of psychology, psychology in Japan.It is very important in the field of psychology to develop psychologists, both those who conduct research and those who practice as clinical psychologists. In the same manner as in other disciplines, students majoring in this field take required courses, read articles on psychological research, and write numerous reports on subjects pertaining to their academic field. Some of these students will become scholars and help younger psychologists grow in their studies and careers. The books and journals that students read have an important role in defining the course of psychology in the future.Today, university libraries in Japan have over 21,000 books and journals that have titles including the word "Shinrigaku" (the Japanese word for psychology) and over 80,000 that

History of Psychological Testing from the Perspective of Test Developers in Japan1

“…Members of the Historical Document Preservation Committee of the Japanese Psychological Association (JPA) have conducted an oral history project of Japanese psychologists (Takasuna, Suzuki, Arakawa, & Sato, 2015). Based on oral histories, T. Suzuki, Arakawa, Koizumi, and Takasuna (2016) discussed the role of the Allied occupation's Civil Information and Educational Section Libraries in supporting the development of psychology after World War II. Since then, no other oral histories have been used as the basis of historical research on psychology in Japan.…”