The National Diet Library (Kokkai Toshokan, abbreviated NDL) was created in June 1948 to help members of the Diet in researching matters pertaining to public policy. The library was formed from two preexisting libraries: the libraries of the two branches of the former Imperial Diet (established in 1890) and the Imperial Library (established in 1872). The NDL consists of two buildings in Tokyo (the second being built in 1961) and one in Kyoto Prefecture (called the Kansai-kan, built in 2002). The primary responsibilities of the NDL are to assist the Diet members in their public service duties and to provide library services for the other branches of government, as well as the general public. In addition to the main collection, the NDL is made up of an International Library of Children’s Literature, an Oriental Library (Toyo Bunko), and 26 branch libraries in the executive and judicial branches of government.
Historical dictionary of modern Japanese literature and theater. J. Scott Miller. 2009.