This paper focuses on Kokatsuji (old movable type), a printing technology used about 400 years ago. It summarizes the results of both the construction of the Kokatsuji dataset for analyzing the mysteries of old printing technology using data-driven approaches and the development of digital typesetting technology to revive Kokatsuji in modern society. First, about the Kokatsuji dataset, we combined various machine learning technologies and developed an algorithm to estimate Kokatsuji blocks automatically. Second, about digital typesetting technology, we developed a digital typesetting system balancing the usage of old Japanese characters, such as Kuzushiji, and a modern typesetting manner and released it as open source. In addition, we also developed a web service that allows easy sharing of generated Kuzushiji images. Finally, we discuss challenges when using these technologies in Kuzushiji education and communication.

      @InProceedings{ jm23a,
      author = {Asanobu KITAMOTO and Jun HOMMA and Tarin CLANUWAT},
      title = {Soan: Conversion from Modern Japanese Text to a Kuzushiji Image Using Kokatsuji (Old Movable Type) Dataset and Its Sharing},
      booktitle = {Proceedings of IPSJ SIG Computers and the Humanities Symposium 2023},
      pages = {51-58},
      year = 2023,
      month = 12,
      doi = {},
      note = { (in Japanese)},
      }