Utilizing content from the National Diet Library website
This page provides guidelines for the reuse of images, documents, articles, data, and other content published by the National Diet Library (NDL) on websites under the ndl.go.jp and kodomo.go.jp domains, whether for publication in printed form or for reproduction for broadcasting, exhibiting, or posting on other websites or in any other medium. Please read this page carefully before reusing any content from our website, whether for publication in books, broadcast in television programs, or display in libraries or other venues.
Please refer to Photoduplication Services, for information on acquiring copies of materials held by the NDL but not displayed on its website.
1. Guidelines for the reuse of content from NDL websites
（1）Content copyrighted by the NDL may be reused without prior application as long as the source is clearly cited.
（2）For content copyrighted by third parties, please refer to 2. For content copyrighted by third parties.
Notwithstanding (1) and (2), content that is designated “About content where other terms of use apply” in the Terms of Use of the National Diet Library's website is subject to specific rules.
Reuse of content from, for example, some NDL publications or some digital exhibitions requires advance submission of a Reproduction Request Form.
Please refer to the Terms of Use of the National Diet Library's website.
2. Content copyrighted by third parties
You are responsible for your own use of the content. Reuse of content copyrighted by a party other than the NDL generally requires permission from the copyright holders. There is, however, no need to obtain permission to reuse content that has entered the public domain or that is subject to exceptions and limitations under the Copyright Act, provided such reuse complies with all conditions set forth in the Copyright Act. It is incumbent upon the reusing party to verify the need for permission, the copyright holder’s name, year of death, and contact information, or conditions for reuse without permission. If the rights holder is unknown, for example, please also consider using the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs’ compulsory license system. In any case, there is no need to submit a Reproduction Request Form to the NDL.
The NDL does not act as an agent for verifying copyright or obtaining permission to reuse copyrighted content.
Reference
- 文化庁 著作権(only available in Japanese)
- 文化庁 著作物等の保護期間の延長に関するQ&A(only available in Japanese)
- 文化庁 著作権者不明等の場合の裁定制度(only available in Japanese)
- リサーチナビ：著者の没年を調べる(only available in Japanese)
2.1. Content in the National Diet Library Digital Collections
The following guidelines apply to the reuse of content from the National Diet Library Digital Collections.
Content for which the Use status is インターネット公開（保護期間満了） is in the public domain and may be reused freely. In such cases, you need not contact the National Diet Library.
Content for which the Use status is インターネット公開（裁定）, インターネット公開（許諾） or 国立国会図書館内/図書館・個人送信限定 is protected by copyright and may only be reused with the permission of the copyright holders. In such cases, you need not contact the National Diet Library. However, if the NDL holds the copyright, please submit an application using the Reproduction Request Form.
Use the following steps to verify the Use status displayed in the Share Area.
（1）Verify that the content (image) is displayed in the Content Area. If the content (image) is NOT displayed in the Content Area, please go directly to steps (3) and (4).
（2）Verify the Use status in the Share Area.
Please note that even when the Use status for an entire work is インターネット公開（保護期間満了） and the work is considered to be in the public domain, individual frames sometimes have their own Use status. Please be sure to check the Use status of each individual image you wish to reuse.
（3）Please select the volume or issue you wish to view from the TOC/volume on the right-hand column. The Use status for individual volumes or issues sometimes differs from the Use status for aggregate titles, so please be sure to verify each individual volume or issue.
（4）Select the volume or issue you are interested in and verify that the image is displayed in the Content Area. Please check the Use status section in the Share Area.
Please refer to the following table for the terms of use for each access category. Please read section “3. Things to bear in mind when using NDL websites” before using this service.
| Use status in the Share Area of the individual image | Conditions for reuse | |
|---|---|---|
| ログインなしで閲覧可能 | インターネット公開（保護期間満了） | The content is in the public domain and may be reused freely. |
| インターネット公開（裁定） | The content is protected by copyright and may only be reused with permission of the copyright holders. It is incumbent upon the party reusing content to verify the copyright status and obtain permission directly from the copyright holders. If the rights holder is unknown, for example, please also consider using the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs’ compulsory license system. | |
| インターネット公開（許諾） | ||
| 送信サービスで閲覧可能 | 国立国会図書館内/図書館・個人送信限定 | The content is protected by copyright and may only be reused with permission of the copyright holders. It is incumbent upon the party reusing content to verify the copyright status and obtain permission directly from the copyright holders. |
| 国立国会図書館内限定 | ||
2.2. Content in digital exhibitions
Images from the following digital exhibitions are in the public domain and may be reused freely.
- Rare Books of the National Diet Library
- The Japanese Calendar
- Portraits of Modern Japanese Historical Figures
- Rare books of the National Diet Library - The 60th anniversary -
- Kaleidoscope of Books
- Japanese Ex-libris Stamps
- INCUNABULA
- NDL Image Bank
- A teenager's encyclopedia of the history of Japan during the late Edo and Meiji periods
- Exploring Japanese Landmarks in Nishiki-e and Photographs
- 絵巻の世界
- 知識を世界に求めて
- NDL Gallery
Images from digital exhibitions other than those listed above may only be reused after submitting a Reproduction Request Form.
Please note that, even when using the digital exhibitions listed above, you must submit an application using the Reproduction Request Form if your intended use reproduces part or all of the structure of a digital exhibition.
Please be sure to review the terms of use for each image from the following International Library of Children’s Literature Digital Exhibitions.
- Japanese Children's Literature: A History from the International Library of Children's Literature Collections
- Children's Books in the Victorian Era: from the Winnington-Ingram Collection
- Children's Books Going Overseas from Japan
3. Things to bear in mind when using NDL websites
Any infringement of copyright involving the reuse of images from NDL websites is solely the responsibility of the reusing party. The NDL cannot be held responsible for any issues that arise from such reuse. Reusing parties should also consider moral rights, human rights, and privacy issues even when reusing content in the public domain. Reusing parties are solely responsible for problems that arise with third parties.
Please credit the NDL as the source when reusing any content, in whole or in part, from NDL websites.
4. FAQ on reuse of content
Please refer to Frequently Asked Questions.