This Japanese filing system called the Noguchi Filing System is a fascinating alternative to subject-based filing (as the author of this page says, it's often hard to know a priori how to categorize a document). By refiling documents in a way that groups frequently accessed materials at the front of the file-shelf, it automatically optimizes itself for putting most urgent documents closest to hand.
New documents (envelopes) are added at the left end of the "envelope buffer," and whenever a document is used (i.e., the envelope removed from the shelf), it is returned to the left end of the bookshelf. The result of this system is that the most recent (and frequently) used documents migrate to the left, while documents that are not used often or not used at all migrate to the right. After the system has been in use for a while, the shelf starts to look like the following.
In the above "frequency-of-use sorting" of files, some of the files on the right side will be classified as "holy files (神様ファイル)," to be retained indefinitely. These, however, are removed from the shelf and stored in boxes. If a "holy file" is in use, it is part of the working file group at the left. Thus, holy files are really dead files, but ones which the user cannot part with. The solution is to get them out of sight into a box someone. In essence, this system works on the principle that categorized files are dead files, and that categorizing files should only be done when they are to be put in your file graveyard.
(via CNET Blog)
