Report on Japan Search Activities in FY2023
This article provides an overview of Japan Search's activities in fiscal 2023 (from April 2023 to March 2024).
Table of Contents
1. Guideline for "Digital Archive" Activities
Digital Archive Japan Promotion Committee and Practitioner Review Committee published "Guideline for "Digital Archive" Activities" in September 2023.
【PDF】 Guideline for Digital Archive Activities (2.8MB、Japanese only)
【Web version】 Guideline for Digital Archive Activities（Japanese only）
2. Function
Release of My Search functionality
A new feature My Search was released in August 2023.
This feature allows users to customize and save their search criteria, which can be used repeatedly.
Search criteria can also be exported and imported, allowing users to share them with others and to import a "Designed Search."
Example of my search "Find content held by institutions in Chiba Prefecture."
Japan Search Labolatory
Japan Search Laboratory is a place to provide experimental use cases of Japan Search. We have just released two experimental applications in March 2024.
Japan Search Item Visualization Map
This service groups thumbnail images registered on Japan Search using AI to visualize them on a web browser. Keyword search is available and you can also move from thumbnail images to the content detail page of each item.
Japan Search Auto Generated Gallery
This function uses the Japan Search API to automatically generate "galleries" that introduce materials on specific subjects. Three entrances are available: "People", "Map", and "Keywords".
Other function improvement
The following improvements have been made to enhance usability:
- addition of keyword image search function to the search window in the header
- addition of icons for My Search and My Notes, and modification of My Search edit screen
- revision of text and design of the cookie consent banner
- amendment of Privacy Policy
- update of the explanation of the simple Web API on the "For Developers" page.
3. Cooperation
In fiscal 2023, we established new partnerships with 10 aggregators and 31 databases(including database integration） which were newly connected to Japan Search.
New database in fiscal 2023
As of the end of March 2023, Japan Search collaborates with 49 aggregators and approximately 29 million metadata from 230 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 2024, approximately 26 million metadata from 190 databases data providers agreed to provide through the API have been converted into the JPS RDF schema.
*You can check it by running a count query by data set on the SPARQL endpoint.
5. Gallery
【Additional New Galleries】
In fiscal 2023, 38 new galleries we added and 12 galleries created by partner institutions, University of Tokyo Library, Kyoto University Research Resources Archive, Shimane University Library, National Theatre (Japan Arts Council), Ryukoku University Library, and Saitama Prefecture are now available.
As of the end of March 2024, a total of 492 galleries are available and we plan to add more galleries in the near future.
New Galleries created by partner institutions in FY2023
6. Promote utilization of digitized content
Using Japan Search
Here are some examples of how to use Japan Search.
FY2023
ジャパンサーチが提供するAPIを利用して、上田市の各施設が所蔵する資料・文化財を横断的に検索する機能を提供します。ジャパンサーチの標準検索機能をカスタマイズし、特定の施設のみを選択して検索可能とするなど、利便性を向上しています。
丹南藩（たんなんはん）立藩400年という節目をむかえる2023年、かつて松原市に丹南陣屋があったことから、丹南陣屋に関する文化財をめぐるイベントを開催。ジャパンサーチなどのインターネット上の文化財にアクセスし、現地に残る文化財と展示された文化財をめぐると、ご当地グッズ「御城印」をプレゼントするという企画。
大学生のデジタルアーキビスト入門教育で、ジャパンサーチを活用するデジタルアーキビストの学習モデルについて、日本デジタルアーキビスト資格認定機構の第20回デジタルアーカイブ研究会で発表しました。
In the Library Science course at Jissen Women's University Junior College, students learn about digital archives in a course called "Advanced Library and Information Resources. In this course, students work on an assignment to create an online garally. Here are some of the student's works.
ジャパンサーチのキュレーション機能である「マイギャラリー」を使った教材学習コンクールの取組のご紹介です。 東京大学大学院情報学環渡邉英徳研究室／S×UKILAM（スキラム）連携が主催する「デジタル資料を活用した防災教材・学習コンクールー未来へつなげる」は、災害に関するデジタル資料やその教育活用事例の周知を図り、防災教育（学習）におけるデジタル資料の活用を促進することを目的として開催された企画です。
群馬県立女子大学文学部で行われる1年生向けの基礎的な演習「フィールドワーク基礎」の成果です。実習としてジャパンサーチを使ったデジタル展示を作成しています。 （指導教員：鈴木親彦）
上田女子短期大学図書館司書課程の科目「図書館情報技術論」（担当教員：井上奈智）において、講義で習得した知識を基に、ジャパンサーチのギャラリー制作を通じて、情報技術やデジタルアーカイブなどを実践的に学びました。
"Galleries" are a kind of online exhibition partner instituions of Japan Search can create on Japan Search. We held a workshop for partner institutions considering creating galleries and project account holders.
学習院大学博物館学芸員課程の博物館実習（担当講師：田良島 哲）で、受講生が制作したジャパンサーチ利用のギャラリーです。 博物館業務の中で、デジタル資源を活用した成果公開が今後重要になってくることを考慮し、自分が企画する展覧会のプレゼンテーションをするつもりで、ギャラリーを制作してもらいました。
GIF IT UP 2023
As an integrated portal in Japan, we cooperated in GIF IT UP 2023, 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 4 entries using the content of Japan Search, and one of them won Children and Teenagers Category Winners.
The "User Guide" page informs you how to use Japan Search.
7. Events
Digital Archive Festival 2023 - Exploring the value of regions and local communities through digital archives -
Curation workshop for Japan Search partner institutions
Other 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 X (@ jpsearch _ go) , official Facebook (@jpsearchgo), the official YouTube channel(@japansearch2673) and official Instagram(@japansearch_go).
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.