The Collaboration Between Humanities and Technology: The past, present, and future of Digital Humanities

Abstract

This paper discusses the state of Digital Humanities (DH) in Japan, reflecting on its history and future possibilities. DH has gained attention as "Convergence Knowledge" in Japan's 6th Basic Plan for Science, Technology, and Innovation. In the early 1990s, there were initial movements to apply informatics to the humanities, with several institutions constructing databases, and academic societies forming. Key issues like shared methods, interdisciplinarity, and international collaboration were noted then, and remain relevant today.

In the 2000s, the "digitalarchive" boom, led by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, saw limited government support for Digital Humanities. However, the introduction of "Convergence Knowledge" marked a shift, with information technology becoming a focus for humanities promotion. The number of DH courses at universities increased, and efforts to comprehensively understand these developments have emerged. This paper classifies DH's growth into three types and explores future directions.