how to locate early Japanese films

[junji yoshida]

Dear all members,

I am now trying to initiate my research on the genealogy of comic cinema in
Japan and various politics at work therein but facing the basic problem of
identifying which films are still existent and where/whether they are
available.  Is there any way to find out these things without going to
Japan?  I assume that Kindai Bijutsukan has a film center but I have never
been there and have no idea about their holdings or even whether they
charge us any fee for viewing.  If anybody has any idea about my inquiries,
please respond.  Thank you.

best,
junji yoshida