Publishing Project "Shōwa 100-Year History" to Launch Web Version in July 2026, Documenting the Lives of Local People and Companies

Concept image of "Shōwa 100-Year History Web Edition"

22nd Century Art Co., Ltd. announces the launch of the "Shōwa 100-Year History Web Edition" in July 2026, a new initiative under its "Shōwa 100-Year History" project, which records the stories of people and businesses who have lived and worked in their local communities through the Shōwa, Heisei, and Reiwa eras.

Website: Homepage

[Official Website] https://www.showa100.net/

With this new web edition, the original manuscripts featured in the printed books will be made freely available on the official website, allowing readers to easily access participants' personal stories anytime, even before visiting a library.

Expanding from Library Donation Project to Web Publication

The project has been progressing since August with plans to publish a dedicated book for each of Japan's 47 prefectures and donate copies to approximately 5,000 libraries and schools nationwide, preserving regional memories for future generations.

However, challenges have included limited accessibility—requiring readers to physically visit libraries—and difficulty conveying which individuals and companies are participating.

To address this, the "Shōwa 100-Year History Web Edition" will now provide an accessible entry point, preserving the value of printed books while enabling broader audiences to discover regional stories through articles published on the official website.

The web edition will feature content organized by prefecture as well as by individual participant, allowing readers to directly access stories of interest based on their personal preferences.

Recording Regional Identities and Lifestyles Through the Voices of Local Residents

Participants in the project will be archived and viewable online (to be released gradually starting July)

"Shōwa 100-Year History" carefully interviews people who were born, worked, built businesses, and lived in close connection with their communities, compiling their values, life choices, and responses to societal changes into narrative form through professional reporting and editing.

While the Shōwa era represents a shared national history, the way it was experienced—along with daily life, culture, and values—varied significantly by region. Local industries, traditions, climate, and human relationships have all shaped the experiences and perspectives of those who lived there.

Therefore, this project publishes a separate volume for each of the 47 prefectures, documenting the distinct memories and ways of life unique to each region. Rather than presenting a single, monolithic historical account, it builds a collective record from individual and corporate voices rooted in their local communities, passing down regional memories of the Shōwa era to future generations.

[No Registration Required] Read the stories you love, whenever you want, for free

The library donation edition of "Shōwa 100-Year History" will be published and distributed as printed books for each prefecture. The web edition will offer the same content as the donated books, presented as individual articles accessible online.

With no requirement to register on e-book platforms, the content is freely accessible on the official website, making it possible to reach audiences who may not typically engage with printed books.

Recommended for those who:

- Want to hear stories from people in their own region - Are interested in reading about participating companies - Wish to understand the values of people who lived in their local area

Readers can freely select articles based on their interests.

The "Shōwa 100-Year History Web Edition" will serve not only as an entry point to the printed books but also as an online archive connecting the voices of people from all 47 prefectures to the future.

Future plans include web-exclusive content

Through the launch of the "Shōwa 100-Year History Web Edition," 22nd Century Art aims to share the stories of individuals and businesses across Japan—from the Shōwa era to the present—with a wider audience.

Regional memories are more than just historical records; they offer future generations valuable insights for reflecting on society and ways of life.

Moving forward, the "Shōwa 100-Year History" project will continue as a cultural archive, combining printed books, library donations, and web publications to pass down the memories and life stories preserved across Japan to the next generation.

About the Shōwa 100-Year History Project

"Shōwa 100-Year History" is a publishing project designed as a modern-day "Fudoki" (ancient provincial records), aiming to document and pass on the history, memories, and heartfelt sentiments preserved within companies and local communities through interviews and editorial work.

The project conducts interviews with participants from each prefecture, compiles the edited content into books, and distributes them through donations to libraries nationwide and commercial sales.

To date, participation has been confirmed from 14 companies and over 400 individual contributors nationwide. A total of 47 volumes—one per prefecture—are currently in production, with the first batch scheduled for publication in August 2026.

In addition to personal stories from local residents, the project also includes interviews with companies and organizations that have long-standing roots in their communities.

By recording the histories of businesses that have supported local industries, culture, and daily life, the project preserves not only individual memories but also a multidimensional record of regional and societal transformation.

[Shōwa 100-Year History Participating Companies]

Hokkaido edition: Uematsu Denki Co., Ltd.

Aomori edition: Kanesa Co., Ltd.

Miyagi edition: Konno Kōhō Co., Ltd.

Fukushima edition: Tokiwa Kōsan Co., Ltd. (Spa Resort Hawaiians)

Tokyo edition: Samurai Rock Orchestra Co., Ltd.

Kanagawa edition: Sogioken Co., Ltd.

Aichi edition: Toyota Motor Corporation

Okayama edition: Kankō Gakuseifuku Co., Ltd. (Kanmuri)

Hiroshima edition: Mazda Motor Corporation

Hiroshima edition: Yata no Sato Co., Ltd.

Mie edition: Oyatsu Company Co., Ltd.

Company Overview

Company Name: 22nd Century Art Co., Ltd. Business Activities: E-book and print-on-demand publishing, English translation publishing, audiobook publishing, editorial services

[Head Office]

〒108-0014

5-26-24 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 2F, Tamachi Square, Business Airport Tamachi R13

Official Website: https://22art.jp/

Inquiries

Public Relations, 22nd Century Art Co., Ltd. Contact: 03-5941-9774