Archival pathology specimens long-conserved in pathology divisions are of historical value [1][2][3][4]. In some institutions, formalin-fixed tissues are preserved for a long period of time. In the present article, we tried to detect hepatitis B and C viruses in archival autopsy specimens, in order to know the times when hepatitis viruses existed in Japan, based on the epidemiological and historical point of view. The archival specimens were provided from Kyushu University and Niigata University. Fixed human autopsy specimens are open to the public in Kyushu University Museum, Fukuoka, and 10 liver tissues of advanced liver cirrhosis autopsied in the period from 1907 to 1930 were sampled after a long fixation period. In addition, a total of 22 paraffin blocks of liver lesions (chronic active