We are delighted to announce that Ignaciohas joined as a research intern at the National Institute of Informatics (NII), Tokyo, working under the guidance of Prof. Asanobu Kitamoto on the “Kokatsuji” digital humanities project. This initiative aims to reconstruct the lost technology of early Japanese movable type (古活字) from the late 16th to early Edo period, shedding new light on printing conventions of the time.
A central goal of Ignacio’s internship is to develop visual analytics methods for exploring large collections of digitized kokatsuji materials. By combining machine learning and human-in-the-loop feedback, the project will create a visual analytics tool for historian experts to identify printing blocks and track patterns of reuse. These interactive visualizations will help scholars reconstruct how early movable type was made and reused—and deepen our understanding of the cultural and technical contexts surrounding historical Japanese printing.
This work underscores the lab’s interdisciplinary approach, blending computer science and humanities scholarship to preserve and interpret Japan’s cultural heritage. We look forward to the insights and innovations that Ignacio’s contributions will bring to the study of kokatsuji.
