# KotenOCR — 古典籍・くずし字OCR

> AI-powered OCR for classical Japanese cursive script (kuzushiji). (iPhone/iPad app by Satoru Nakamura.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kotenocr/id6760045646 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Satoru Nakamura](https://appshunter.io/developer/1841530905)
- Category: Reference, Utilities
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 3.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 16.0 · 247 MB
- Languages: American English, Japanese
- Released: 2026-03-13
- Data updated: 2026-08-24
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kotenocr/id6760045646/reviews.md

## What is KotenOCR?

An OCR app that reads classical Japanese cursive script (kuzushiji) using AI.

Features:
- Just take a photo to convert kuzushiji to text
- Powered by the National Diet Library's AI model (NDL Koten OCR-Lite)
- All processing runs on-device (no internet connection required)
- Copy and share recognized text

How to Use:
1. Capture a page with the camera or select from your photo library
2. AI automatically detects text regions and recognizes kuzushiji
3. Tap results to review, copy and use

Supports over 7,000 kanji, hiragana, and katakana characters. Optimized for Edo-period woodblock prints and manuscripts.

Licenses:
- OCR Model: NDL Koten OCR-Lite (National Diet Library, CC-BY-4.0)
- Inference Engine: ONNX Runtime (Microsoft, MIT License)

Source code: https://github.com/nakamura196/koten-ocr-ios

## Key features

- Photo to text conversion
- AI-powered kuzushiji recognition
- On-device processing
- Copy and share text
- Supports 7,000+ characters
- Optimized for historical documents

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $6.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (1 of 1)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kotenocr/id6760045646/reviews.md

### 3/5 — バージョンアップを期待！

*2026-03-24*

文字と絵が区別出来てない。キラなどデザインされた紙などに書かれている場合、それも認識してくれたらと思います。

**Developer response:** レビューありがとうございます。本アプリは国立国会図書館の「NDL古典籍OCR-Lite」モデルを利用しており、装飾紙（金箔・模様入りの料紙など）上の文字認識はモデルの特性上、精度が下がる場合がございます。いただいたご意見は今後の改善の参考にさせていただきます。

## Frequently asked questions about KotenOCR

### What is KotenOCR?

KotenOCR is an application that uses artificial intelligence to recognize and convert classical Japanese cursive script (kuzushiji) into digital text. It allows users to take a photo of the script and have it converted.

### Does KotenOCR require an internet connection?

No, all processing for KotenOCR runs on-device. This means you do not need an internet connection to convert kuzushiji to text, ensuring privacy and accessibility.

### What kind of Japanese script does KotenOCR support?

KotenOCR is specifically designed to recognize classical Japanese cursive script, known as kuzushiji. It supports over 7,000 kanji, hiragana, and katakana characters, with optimization for Edo-period woodblock prints and manuscripts.

### What is the AI model used by KotenOCR?

KotenOCR is powered by the National Diet Library's AI model, NDL Koten OCR-Lite. This model is licensed under CC-BY-4.0.

### Is KotenOCR free to use?

Yes, KotenOCR is free to download and use. The application may offer in-app purchases for additional features or content.

### What devices is KotenOCR available on?

KotenOCR is available for iPhone and iPad devices. It is designed to work on these Apple mobile platforms.

### How often is KotenOCR updated?

The latest version of KotenOCR is 1.3.5, last updated on March 27, 2026. Updates typically include improvements to recognition accuracy, bug fixes, and feature enhancements.

### What is the age rating for KotenOCR?

KotenOCR has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for users of all ages, with no content restrictions.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.3.5 — 2026-03-27

Improved local AI status messages. Now shows specific guidance when Apple Intelligence is not enabled or model is still downloading.

### 1.3.4 — 2026-03-26

Refreshed app icon design.

### 1.3.3 — 2026-03-25

Added update prompt feature. When a new version is available, a notification dialog will be shown.

### 1.3.2 — 2026-03-24

Significantly reduced memory usage and fixed crashes on older devices. Improved recognition processing stability.

### 1.3.1 — 2026-03-23

Improved Modern OCR detection accuracy. Removed duplicate detections and aligned parameters with upstream ndlocr-lite.

## More apps by Satoru Nakamura

- [IIIF AR](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iiif-ar/id6761031891)

All apps by Satoru Nakamura: https://appshunter.io/developer/1841530905

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-24.*