Report on Japan Search Activities in FY2021
Report on Japan Search Activities in FY2021
This article provides an overview of Japan Search's activities in fiscal 2021 (from April 2021 to March 2022).
Table of Contents
1. Japan Search Strategy 2021-2025
We designed "Japan Search Strategy 2021-2025", which covers five-year period from 2021 to 2025.
In order to realize the goals set in the strategy, we also worked on "Japan Search Action Plan 2021-2025".
2. Function
My Gallery
The function of "My Gallery" was made available to all users in November 2021. "My Gallery" allows you to create your own digital exhibitions (gallery) using Japan Search and external digitized content.
Image Search
In January 2022, "Image Search" function, which allows finding items with similar thumbnails, was renewed to greatly improve search accuracy and response speed.
Simply click on the image search icon in the content to get images of similar shapes, both in color and black and white.
検索機能のリニューアル
The search function was renewed in March 2022.
When you open the Japan Search cross search screen, you will see a tab below the search box to narrow down your search results. You can narrow down your search results by content type, field, time/period, as well as usage conditions.
3. Cooperation
In fiscal 2021, we established new partnerships with 8 aggregators and 53 databases which were newly connected to Japan Search.
New database in fiscal 2021
As of the end of March 2022, Japan Search collaborates with 33 aggregators and approximately 25 million metadata from 170 databases are accessible from Japan Search. We will continue to further expand our cooperation in the future.
4. Conversion to JPS RDF schema
Japan Search converts aggregated metadata to Japan Search’s data schema, the JPS RDF schema, and publishes it as linked open data through an API. As of the end of March 2022, approximately 20 million metadata from 142 databases data providers agreed to provide through the API have been converted into the JPS RDF schema.
* Please check the API column of the Databases page (display mode: table) or the Statistics page to check if the database is available in the API.
In addition, along with the official release, we added an English translation to the "For developers" page which explains the JPS RDF schema.
5. Gallery
As of the end of March 2022, a total of 300 galleries are available and we plan to add more galleries in the near future.
6. Promote utilization of digitized content
GIF IT UP 2021
As an integrated portal in Japan, we cooperated in GIF IT UP 2021, a GIF animation creation contest held by Europeana in cooperation with the GIF animation sharing and search service GIPHY, assisting with PR in Japan and providing open licensed materials to make GIFs. There were 28 entries using the content of Japan Search, and one of them won the GIPHY Backdrop Category.
The "User Guide" page informs you how to use Japan Search.
7. Events
In June 2021, we sponsored an online forum titled
"Online forum to expand the cooperation of Japan Search” .
Past events are summarized on the "Archive" page.
8. PR
Lectures and Contributions
We hold lectures about Japan Search at events and academic conferences hosted by other organizations.
Past lectures and articles are summarized on the "Archive" page.
SNS
Japan Search has been providing information on new databases, content, events and lectures and tips on how to use Japan Search through official Twitter (@ jpsearch _ go) and official Facebook (@jpsearchgo) and the official YouTube channel.
Conclusion
Japan Search has been expanding its cooperation and utilization, thanks to our partners, users and supporters. In the future, Japan Search will continue to improve its functions, expand its cooperation with local archives, and promote the use of digital archives.
We deeply appreciate your continued support.