Abstract:

This paper introduces Minna de Honkoku, a citizen-participation-based transcription platform for premodern Japanese materials. Initially launched in 2017 as a collaborative transcription project for historical earthquake records, the platform was significantly updated in 2019 and expanded to cover a broader range of Japanese historical sources. Since the transcription of such materials requires deciphering kuzushiji (cursive script), Minna de Honkoku incorporates into its system design a learning process in which participants collaboratively acquire the skills needed for deciphering. This approach enables wide participation, sustains motivation, and enhances participants' skills. In addition, the system offers AI based support tools capable of automatically recognizing characters at the individual character or image level to assist with deciphering difficult kuzushiji. As of the current version, approximately 4,100 users have contributed to the transcription of over 2,300 items, totaling more than 41 million characters.

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