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Methods for using Databases

I. How to Choose a Database

A database is created depending on medium, type, research field, and purpose of the materials. The Library System Database List collects links to search tools available at the University of Tokyo. You can search by database name, source type, subject, and access type. For more information, see How to Use the Databases List.
Frequently used databases are also listed as Popular databases on the left side of the Literacy menu.
Seminars concerning the use of databases are held on a regular basis. Please refer to the Event and Training Sessionon the left-side menu of Literacy for future dates of events. The Twitter account of the UTokyo Literacyannounces information not only about lectures on campus but also lectures held by database providers.

Select by source type

The Library System Database List enables searching by source type. There will be several matching databases. We will introduce the key points. For more information about using each database, click the database name to browse the manual.

Type

Characteristics, search method, etc.

Books

If you want to get an overview of a theme, books are recommended rather than papers. Find books (e-books) at the University of Tokyo Library OPAC.

Journal papers and magazine articles

If you want to read the latest issue of a journal, enter the journal name in the search window of E-journal & E-book Portal.
Search by title of paper is not available.

  • If you want to find a specific paper, use TREE (UTokyo REsource Explorer) first. You can easily search by the title of the paper.
  • If you want to search for a paper in Japanese, search CiNii Research and if you want to search for a paper in English, search Web of Science Core Collection, which enable advanced search.
    - If you want to search for papers in a particular field of expertise, see I.2. I want to know a well-known database by expertise field
    - If you want to search articles in general magazines, also see I.3. I want to search newspaper and magazine articles

Proceedings

Proceedings are a record of presentations and summaries at academic conferences.
In many cases, the proceedings can be searched together with the papers in the literature database by field. For example, search the proceedings in IEEE Xplore and Engineering Village for engineering.

Statistics

Statistics are divided into various categories such as issuing organization (government agencies, private organizations, companies) and type. You need to choose the database that matches the statistics you want to find.
First, refer to Research Navi at National Diet Library. You can check the database by purpose. As many of the databases listed are subscribed to by the University of Tokyo, you can use them by searching by database name from the Library System Database List. (For books, search them via the University of Tokyo Library OPAC.)
Alternatively, you can search by selecting statistical data in the source type in Library System Database List, and then select a database based on description.

Newspaper articles

There are categories such as national papers, local papers, trade papers, foreign papers, and newspapers by age.
Some databases may limit the search period, while others include some articles from various sources.

Please also use this pdf (on-campus only), which summarizes the scope of the recording and other information.

Overseas Primary Sources

Various collections are available. The following collections are particularly well-known and contain a large number of items.
Early English Books Online (EEBO)
Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO)
Nineteenth Century Collections Online (NCCO)
For more details, please click here (on-campus only).

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Select a database for your purpose
I.1. I want to expand the range of keywords before using a literature database.

In a literature database, it is common to search by keywords related to a research theme. By using a dictionary or thesaurus to deepen your understanding of the keywords (things or events) you are searching for, and searching for synonyms, you can get closer to the search results you want.

Database name

Contents

JapanKnowledge Lib

Search by keyword. You can browse synonyms.

J-GLOBAL

You can browse synonyms and thesauruses.

 

I.2. I want to know a well-known database by expertise field

Here are some of the most popular and distinctive databases in each field.

  Database name

Medical science

PubMed [UTokyo ver.] (focus on overseas literature), Ichushi-Web (online edition of Japana Centra Revuo Medicina) (focus on domestic literature). It is also possible to search PubMed on the Ichushi-Web.
OvidSP provides MEDLINE, EBM Reviews, Journals@Ovid Full Text, and Books@Ovid. Use Cochrane Database [Available through OvidSP] in Ovid database platform.

Nursing science

Please use the Saishin Kango Sakuin Web to search domestic literature, or use CINAHL Plus with Full Text [Available through EBSCOhost] to search overseas literature.

Pharmacy

In 2019, TOXLINE’s content was changed over to PubMed “Toxicology subset.”

Chemistry

First, the Kagakusho Shiryokan. You can search "Chemistry Handbook" (basic and applied editions), "Series of Experimental Chemistry," and "Dictionary of Standard Chemistry Terms"(edited by the Chemical Society of Japan) and browse the text. Next, CAS SciFinder-n. You can search a wide range of documents and compounds.
You can also use Reaxys. We no longer purchase book series of Beilstein (Organic) and Gmelin (Inorganic and organometallic), so please use this database.
The University of Tokyo has a contract with Cambridge Structural Database: CSD. You need to apply in advance to use the database.

Physics

Powder diffraction pattern display is also available in ICSD (Inorganic Crystal Structure Database). You can also use Landolt-Boernstein (SpringerMaterials). Please also use arXiv.org, where you can read preprint.

Engineering

The University of Tokyo has a contract with  Compendex (Engineering Village) and Inspec (Engineering Village), so you can perform integrated search in Engineering Village. IEEE Xplore is another full-text information database essential in the engineering field. You can browse the literature by jumping from Engineering Village. You can also search for industrial standards, so keep that in mind.

Mathematics

Two of the largest literature databases in mathematics are MathSciNet and Zentralblatt MATH (zbMATH). If you are searching for literature, try using these two databases. You need to jump from the link to read the text.

Science

Chronological Scientific Tables (Rika Nenpyo Premium). This database contains chronological scientific table content from 1925 to the latest. In addition to "search by content,” which enables searching by title of the table for each section such as calendar and astronomy and “search by index” in the order of Japanese syllabary, you can use full-text search.
For protocols, continuing books such as Methods in Molecular Biology are now available from SpringerProtocols [Available through SpringerLink]. Current Protocols [Available through the Wiley Online Library] is a database of Current Protocols (which were replacement materials).

Biology

BIOSIS Citation Index [Available through Web of Science]. You can select it from the pull-down menu of the Web of Science. You can click the link to jump to the text.

Agriculture

First of all, AGRICOLA. The National Agricultural Library provides this database. You can search information on agriculture and related papers (including abstracts) and browse bibliographic information on books and audiovisual materials around the world.
The Agricultural & Environmental Science Collection [Available through ProQuest] is a database of literature and papers in the fields of agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, environmental studies, and ecology, including AGRICOLA. This database is recommended as it collects a part of the text and also has a jump function.

Pedagogy

ERIC When you search the Library System database with ERIC, multiple databases will match. Such well-known databases may be included in some larger databases. You can use the database with enhanced platform function. Education Collection [Available through ProQuest] is recommended. This is a platform for searching ERIC and texts of papers. (For some papers, it may be necessary to jump to another database.)

Jurisprudence

There are databases that are suitable for each country. We introduce databases that are specific to Japan.

D1-Law.com: Database where you can search "existing laws," "case systems," and "legal case document information."
Super Horei Web: Law database. Database indexing laws and regulations based on the Ministry of Justice's publication “Genko-Nihon-Hoki” (Gyosei).
LEX/DB Internet: Database where you can search precedents (full text information).

Literature

MLA International Bibliography [Available through from EBSCOhost] is a Modern Language Association (MLA) database that provides bibliographic information for books, papers, and journal articles on linguistics, modern languages, literature, folklore, and linguistics. Gale Literature (formerly: Gale Literary Sources) is an online comprehensive literature database that allows you to search for biographies, literary reviews, and introductions to works by authors. Content of the former Literature Resource Center is also included. Full text information is abundant.

There are many databases that we cannot introduce here. Some may be introduced on library websites of relevant departments. Also, specify the subject area in the Library System Database List and read the description of the matching database.
For terminology such as bibliographic database, literature database, and full-text database, see III. Learn More about Databases.

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I.3. I want to search newspaper and magazine articles

You can also search newspaper and magazine articles in the database. If the text is not available in the database, contact the library of your department or graduate school (or the general library if you are a staff member of the headquarters).

Purpose

Content, database name etc.

Search for newspaper articles about the University of Tokyo and business related to university management. (Text included) Asahi Shimbun Cross-Search  /  ■YOMIDAS REKISHIKAN (ヨミダス歴史館)  /  ■Maisaku(毎索)  ■Nikkei Telecom 21 
There is a limit on simultaneous access. When you finish searching, make sure to click “log out” in each database display.
Searching for a magazine article that you know which magazine it is published in.
(The text is included, but only the most recent part or conversely, the most recent part may not be included.)

■AERA→Asahi Shimbun Cross-Search 
■Weekly Economist→Maisaku(毎索) or JapanKnowledge Lib
■Nikkei Business(日経ビジネス)→Nikkei BP (Business Publications) article database 
■Forbes → pressreader
■Weekly DIAMOND→Syukan Diamond Digital Archives 
■Weekly Toyo Keizai→Toyokeizai Digital Archives

If you do not know the magazine carrying the article but want to search magazine articles.
(The text is not included, but it is available by jumping to some part.)
Zassaku Plus → CiNii link available. There is a function to search illustrations. You can search articles spanning from Meiji era to the present day.

Web OYA-bunko → For searching magazines that are closer to general/popular magazines.

If you want to know the circulation of the magazine, please search "ABC Association Report (ABC 協会レポート)" from E-journal & E-book Portaland use it.

I.4. I want to read foreign newspapers

This is information for people who want to read foreign newspapers. You can also search newspapers published in the past from the Library System Database List. (Select newspaper in source type.)
For types not included in the Library System Database List, please also search the E-journal & E-book Portal. Please also use this pdf (on-campus only), which summarizes the scope of the recording and other information.

Country Title Database name, etc.
China 解放日报(Jiefang Daily)

pressreader

After you log in, scroll down a little to show Categories.
Click “News” from Categories.
Select countries from all countries and click Done at the lower right.
This is a system to select newspapers you want to read.

There are many newspapers that are not shown here.
Please use it.

The content of pressreader is subject to change from time to time (table is as of December 2021).
Hong Kong 東方日報Oriental Daily News (HK)
Taiwan 聯合報United Daily News (Taiwan)
Korea 中央日報(JoongAng Ilbo)
東亜日報
Singapore THE STRAITS TIMES
聯合早報
Thailand Bangkok Post(英字)
India THE TIMES OF INDIA
USA The Los Angeles Times
Washington Post
The Daily News
The Chicago Tribune
UK

The Daily Telegraph
The Guardian
The Observer
The Independent
Daily Express
Daily Mail

France Libération
Le Figaro
Germany Der Tagesspiegel
Brazil Folha de S.Paulo
O Estado de S. Paulo
Country Title  Database name
China

人民日報

People's Daily (Renmin Ribao)
Only one access is allowed at a time. Make sure to log out when you finish searching.
USA The New York Times

You can read the text in Gale Academic OneFile.
If you have difficulty locating a newspaper in Gale Academic OneFile, it is useful to search for a newspaper in E-journal & E-book Portal and then jump to Gale Academic OneFile.

UK

Times (London, England : 1788) 


The Financial Times(Available from one month after issuance.)

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I.5. I want to use it for job hunting

For instructions, click each database name. The manual appears. 

Database name Contents
Nikkei Telecom 21
(Domestic enterprises)

Database where you can read the Nikkei Shimbun. You can see the latest data, "Nikkei company profile,” which is periodically surveyed by Nikkei Inc. through its nationwide network of interviews and surveys.It is useful to search by company name from the company search and read the result in report format.Company’s basic information (head office location/establishment/capital/sales scale/business content/products/history)Financial conditions, operating results, production status, and sales compositionCompany officers, major shareholders, and clientsWork environment (average age of employees/average salary/presence of labor union)

eol
(Domestic enterprises)
Database where you can read financial statements. You can access to the data of approximately 4,200 companies. The database is also equipped with a function to narrow down companies from various aspects such as the head office, business offices, company scale, and research cooperation with the University of Tokyo. You can use this database when you want to choose a company that you are interested in or that matches your condition.It can also be used to prepare for interviews, as it allows you to compare with other companies in the same industry and check issues.
As the information is detailed, you need to have certain knowledge to search and read. Click eol on the left and read the manual.  It is recommended to use “examples of search” at the bottom of the menu. You can select an example similar to what you want to search and change the search condition, which is easy for beginners to start with. Example) Companies conducting joint research with the University of Tokyo, etc. 
Kaisha Shikiho(Japan Company Handbook)
JapanKnowledge Lib
After logging into JapanKnowledge Lib, go to “Advanced Search” at the top of the screen.
 
Nikkei BP (Business Publications) article database Scroll down on the top screen. Click "Collect job search information「就活情報を収集する」" near the end.
Business Source Complete [Available through EBSCOhost]
 
If you want to know about overseas companies,1) Search from “More” at the top of the screen.→ “Company profile” (You can get detailed information, but it may not match your search.)2) Search from “Company infomation” at the top of the screen. (Although it provides only brief information, it covers a large number of companies.)
Nexis Uni

If you want to know about overseas companies.
Searchable Company Information, Executive Profile, SEC Filing under Company & Financial tab.

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I.6. I want to know which databases I can use to analyze research results

Some of the databases require user registration, so please refer to the manual in advance. Click the database name to view the manual.
Seminars for university members are held about once a year. You can also check the texts of past seminars (click lecture on the left menu and click Textbooks for database training sessions.
The Education and Research Information Database of the University of Tokyo, “Pure (former SciVal Experts)” was closed in March 2018.

Database name

Contents

SciVal

Research performance analysis tool It is a tool that can obtain objective data on research performance of research institutes around the world in about 220 countries and regions. As you can set your own research team and area, you can analyze it according to your needs.

InCites Benchmarking

This is a research analysis tool based on information from the Web of Science. Benchmark indicators can be provided on a per-paper basis, and analysis can be performed with freely setting filters according to the granularity and co-authorship relationship.
Essential Science Indicators (ESI) This is a tool capable of analyzing statistics and trends related to academic papers.
II. Database Search Techniques

This section introduces the search techniques required to search various databases efficiently. A tip for searching is to search “widely and shallowly” and then search “narrowly and deeply.”
What search methods can you use to efficiently extract the information you want from a large amount of information? Knowing some techniques, for example, filtering and sorting search results, AND search, OR search, and NOT search, not just entering keywords you come up with, will help you get the results you want.
For example, you can use the following techniques:

When you want to narrow down the search AND Search, Phrase Search, Proximity operator, Exact Match Search
Search by limiting search items
When you want to expand the search OR Search, Prefix search(forward match search,backward match search, etc.)
Search without limiting the search items
When you want to exclude unnecessary terms NOT Search
(Note that words that are excluded by NOT search are excluded uniformly.)
II.1. AND, OR, NOT Search

Use Boolean operations (AND, OR, NOT) to combine multiple search terms. It is also called AND search, OR search, and NOT search. In the figure below, the red area indicates the search result.

Examples of keyword search techniques (using multiple words)

Figure : Examples of keyword search techniques (using multiple words)

When you use an operator, there is a rule that you have to use either uppercase or lowercase letters, depending on the database. Refer to II.3. List of key database techniques for the main databases.

  • CiNii Research, PubMed: Operators are uppercase (OR, NOT)

II.2. Other techniques

  • Prefix search (truncation): Many databases use * (asterisk).
  • Wildcard (truncation): Many databases use * (asterisk) or ? (question mark).
  • Phrase Search
    • Many databases use “ ” (double quotations).
    • In a phrase search, "media literacy” finds matches for this phrase.
      • For example, if you search by media literacy, the search is performed as a general AND search, and include results where the word order of media and literacy are interchanged, or where there are words between the specified words. On the other hand, if you search by “media literacy,” you can set the results with the same order of search words and no other words between them.
        This is a technique called phrase search, which enables narrowing down the search results more effectively than AND search.
  • Proximity operator
    It specifies the positional relationship between two or more search terms. If you perform AND search, the results include phrases in which the search words are distant from each other, and you may not get the results you want. If you use the proximity operator, you can specify the order in which search terms appear and the number of words between search terms. Note that “proximity operators” vary according to the database.
  • Combination of techniques
    • Some databases can use * (partial match) in phrase search “ ” (double quotation), whereas other databases cannot.
    • For example, the Web of Science usually searches spelling variations and plurals automatically, but this function is not available in “ ” (double quotation). Therefore, use * to search for phrases with spelling variations, such as "nonprofit organi*ation*".
    • On the other hand, in Engineering Village, * cannot be used in " ", so you need to consider connecting each keyword with OR or searching without using " ".

It is important to pay attention to these techniques in order to use the database effectively. For details on the techniques, search each database in the "Library System Database List," and click on each database name to view the manual. See also the help page in each database. We will also introduce simple techniques in the training session (Japanese page is here). Please consider participating in it.

II.3. List of key database techniques
Database name AND Search OR Search NOT Search

AND, OR NOT 
Combinations

Prefix search

Phrase Search

Proximity operator

The University of Tokyo OPAC Use pull-down menu for advanced search 
※Space in search field
media△literacy
Use pull-down menu for advanced search 
※Use "+"
report△+△paper
Use pull-down menu for advanced search 
※ Use "-"

report△-△paper
In order of top of the input column
in advanced search 
※( ) is alsoavailable
Use * (asterisk)
japan*
“media△
literacy”
(※1)
Not available
E-journal & E-book Portal plant△science
 
Not available Not available Not available ※plan* sci* let* in "Title contains all words"
(* (asterisk) cannot be used in Japanese.)
Not available (※2) Not available
CiNii Research レポート△
書き方
レポート△
OR△論文
レポート△
NOT△英語
(レポート△OR
△論文)書き方
△NOT△英語
japan*
(You can't use * for Japanese.)
“media△
literacy”
(You can't use "" in Japanese.)
(※3)
Not available
Web of Science Core Collection media△literacy media△or△
literacy
media△not△
television
(media△or△
internet)
literacy△not△ television
japan*
tada△t* (Author name)
“media△
literacy”
woman△near/3△ stress
Note: /3 means 3 words or less (any number).
EBSCOhost media△and△ literacy media△or△
literacy
media△not△ television (media△or△ internet)
and△literacy△
not△television
japan* “media△
literacy”
You can select a search mode in search option at the bottom of the search screen. Search 5 words or less by default.


media△ literacy
Ichushi-Web 高血圧△薬物療法 輸液△or△点滴 脳腫瘍△not△髄膜腫 (清拭△or△清潔) and△褥瘡

Partial match without symbol

“influenza△
vaccine”
Not available
PubMed influenza△
AND△vaccine
influenza△
OR△vaccine

influenza△
NOT△vaccine

(influenza△
OR△
H5N1)
AND △vaccine
japan* “influenza△
vaccine”
Not available

 

※   Δin the table represents a space. Also, only a part is shown in the table. Even if it is possible to use ? (1-character inflection) and $ (0 or 1-character inflection) besides * (asterisk), description is omitted. Please refer to the individual database manual and help.

※1  Used in advanced search screen. You can use it for “Any (Keyword),” “Title words,” “Author,” “Publisher,” and “Subject.”
※2  If you search plant science in “Title equals” column, only results with the title “Plant Science” match.

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II.4. Thesaurus

If you search the database with a word that comes to mind, you will not be able to find the data unless that word is included in the title or abstract, etc. of the paper.
Some databases have a thesaurus, which organizes synonyms, related terms, superordinate concepts, and subordinate concepts by field and content. Using (or directing to) a set of controlled words allows you to search efficiently.

III. Learn More about Databases
III.1. Bibliographic database and literature (paper) database
  • Bibliographic database
    Example) University of Tokyo Library OPAC, E-journal & E-book Portal
    Neither the University of Tokyo Library OPAC nor the E-journal & E-book Portal can be used to search for information about the paper or full-text information. You can search by book name and journal name.
     
  • Literature (paper) database
    Example) Web of Science, etc.
    You can search literature information on Web of Science, etc. but cannot browse full-text information.
    These databases contain links to sites of each publisher where full-text information is available. You can browse full-text information from corresponding pages of the publisher by clicking that link.
III.2. Full-text information database
  • In institutional repositories of universities and research institutes and e-journal sites of publishers such as Science Direct, you can read full-text information directly by searching on each site.
III.3. Other types
  • Some databases contain both bibliographic and full-text information and allow you to refer to the full text in the database.

III.4. Obtaining the text

 If you need full-text information, try to click icons that may allow you to browse full text.
Examples) PDF, paper, J-STAGE, institutional repositories, Download, etc.  
                 Alternatively, click the UTokyo Article Link.


      

On UTokyo Article Link, click on the full-text icon if there is one, or search for papers published for free in other resources if there is no full-text icon. If you still cannot obtain full text, search paper journals and request a copy of the text. (You can directly go to the library to get a copy.)

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IV. References and Links
  • How do I use databases and e-journals off campus?
    Please refer to here. (Left Menu: use from off-campus)
  • If you have any questions:
    Use the  ASK service.

IV.1. Abbreviations and Terminology in the Database

Please note that available functions and terms vary according to the database. It is recommended that you refer to “Help” of the database.

Terminology

Pronunciation

Meaning

abstract アブストラクト

Description, Summary

address, affiliation アドレス、アフィリエーション

Affiliated institution of author, etc.

alert アラート A function that notifies you by email or other means when information that meets the preset conditions is posted. As an example, you are notified when:
- a new issue of registered magazine is added;
- papers matching the registered search conditions have been added; and
- a specified paper is cited by other papers.
archive アーカイブ

May refer to a list of past volumes and issues on the e-journal site, etc.

browse ブラウズ

A way to find information you need from a list of information.

citation サイテーション

Citations, quotations

(table of) contents コンテンツ

Table of Contents

doi (Digital Object Identifierの略) ディーオーアイ

An international standard identification number given to each article title in an e-journal. As this is a unique number that does not change even if the server of the provider is moved, links will not become broken, which is an advantage.

export エクスポート

Output information in a format adapted to reference management software, etc. This is often displayed when search results are saved.

full text フルテキスト

Full text, full text display

help ヘルプ

Shows an overview of the database and search method. When you use a new database or have a trouble with searching, refer to help. It is sometimes described as "tips."

HTML エイチティーエムエル

One of the formats provided when you browse full-text papers. Sometimes there are links in the text.

in press インプレス

Papers that have been accepted to journals but are not yet issued in paper format. It is also described as "Early view" or "Online First."

issue イシュー

Issue No. "Back issues" may indicate a list of past issues on the e-journal site, etc.

log out / log off ログアウト/ログオフ

You can protect your personal information such as search history by clicking it at the end of session. If the database has a limit on the number of simultaneous accesses, the next user can use the database after you log out. It is also described as “sign out” or “sign off.”

PDF ピーディーエフ

One of the formats provided when you browse full-text papers. You can browse the data in the same layout as a paper magazine. You need to install “Adobe Reader” software.

register レジスター

Click to display the user registration window.

save to file セーブ トゥ ファイル

Save information on personal computer or digital media. It is often displayed when you save search results and e-journals.

sort ソート

Function to sort search results.

summary サマリー

Overview, summary

volume, vol. ボリューム、ボル

Vol.

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