Previously it was thought that there had been no movement toward the establishment of a Japan P.E.N. Club prior to about 1935, with willing Japanese people participating locally only.
Now, shortly after its founding, International PEN suggested the establishment of a Japan P.E.N. Club to the Japanese ambassador to Britain at the time,
1936-November
The Founding General Meeting is held and Toson Shimazaki is appointed the inaugural president. Initially "club" is written in kanji in Japanese (now it is written in katakana)
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Greeting by Toson Shimazaki, the founding president of Japan P.E.N. Club.
"The poetry and prose of our country was completely unknown to the rest of the world.
This is no doubt because the special characteristics of our written characters and words made it impossible for our literature to gain a presence outside our country.
1936 September - First delegation of the Japan P.E.N. Club to Buenos Aires International PEN Congress Tokyo is decided to have PEN Congress in 1940.
1936 Congratulatory Telegram to H.G. Wells, then president of International PEN from Toson Shimazaki, then president of Japan PEN Club
The English version of the Club Newsletter sent to International PEN
1937 June The Japan P.E.N. Club becomes an Executive Director Center of International PEN
1938 June The telegram of the perpetual postponement of the Tokyo Congress 1940 is sent to International PEN in London
1939 Cancellation of the International PEN Congress planned to be held in New York
1940 Cancellation of the International PEN Congress planned to be held in Stockholm
1941 July "Nonetheless, Japan P.E.N. Club still exists." Telegram to International PEN
1943 August President Toson Shimazaki dies. In November Masamune Hakucho is appointed the second president
President Shimazaki and other members of the delegation on board the Rio De Janeiro, the ship on which they travelled to Argentina(above)