In 1969, Nichigai Associates started a technical information retrieval service and began publishing the encyclopedias, indices, and directories.
The databases focus on providing the information regarding prominent figures, bibliographies, magazines, awards, translation, and other reference materials.
WHO I catalog important figures in economics, society, and politics, WHO II in academic research, literary, and journalism, and WHO III in arts, entertainment, and sports.
The Sakka shippitsusha jinbutsu file compiles over 36,000 writers, critics, journalists, and researchers in humanities and social sciences from Meiji period to the present.
The profiles include their notations and readings of names, occupations and position titles, date of birth and death, academic backgrounds, personal history, and awards among others.
Subject includes full text search by profile, name of the figure, gender, living or deceased, the area of occupational activity, the year of birth and death, place of employment, position title, contact information, hometown, affiliated college, and nationality.
Bibliographic information of the figures are divided into three parts; Jinbutsu bunken, Tosho, and Kiji ronbun.
The result page lists the National Diet Library call numbers which facilitate the book and article search at NDL.