Development of Hyper Edohaku, an Official App of the Edo-Tokyo Museum: Significance of Digital Archives Mimicked as Game Apps

Abstract

“Hyper Edohaku”, the official app of the Edo-Tokyo Museum, is an app for mobile devices that allows users to enjoy the museum’s exhibits and collections online. The development of this application is an example of digital archive utilization, but we sought a new approach that is distinct from conventional museum-provided content and presents a new example of utilization. In this report, we provide an overview of the app and the background and process of its creation, and then consider the significance of this app from the perspective of promoting the utilization of digital archives. What became apparent through collaboration with a company specializing in digital technology is the possibility of revitalizing the utilization of digital archives by involving other fields and industries.