# Kotobank

> Japanese search website

**Wikidata**: [Q11302260](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11302260)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotobank)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kotobank

## Summary
Kotobank is a Japanese search website that functions as an online encyclopedia, dictionary, and web service. It was launched on April 23, 2009, and is operated by DIGITALIO and C-POT, with Asahi Shimbun as the publisher.

## Key Facts
- Kotobank was launched on April 23, 2009 (inception/publication date)
- It is a Japanese search website that also serves as an online encyclopedia, web service, website, and online dictionary
- The service is operated by both DIGITALIO and C-POT
- Kotobank's website is located at https://kotobank.jp/
- The service's Japanese name is コトバンク (Kotobank), a blend word
- Its official app is available on both Android and iOS platforms
- Kotobank has 12 sitelinks according to Wikidata
- It has been featured on multiple Wikipedia language editions including Japanese, English, Spanish, French, Korean, and others

## FAQs
### Q: What is Kotobank used for?
A: Kotobank is a Japanese search website that functions as an online encyclopedia, dictionary, and web service. It allows users to search for Japanese words and phrases with explanations.

### Q: Who developed Kotobank?
A: Kotobank was developed by DIGITALIO and is operated by both DIGITALIO and C-POT. The publisher is Asahi Shimbun.

### Q: When was Kotobank launched?
A: Kotobank was launched on April 23, 2009.

### Q: Is Kotobank available on mobile devices?
A: Yes, Kotobank has an official app that is available on both Android and iOS platforms.

## Why It Matters
Kotobank serves as a comprehensive resource for Japanese language understanding, providing a centralized platform for searching words and phrases with detailed explanations. It bridges the gap between traditional dictionaries and modern web-based search, making Japanese language knowledge more accessible to both native speakers and learners. As an online encyclopedia and dictionary, it plays a significant role in Japanese information ecosystem, especially with its connection to Asahi Shimbun, one of Japan's major newspaper companies. The multilingual presence of Kotobank on Wikipedia indicates its importance as a reference source beyond just the Japanese-speaking community.

## Notable For
- Being developed by DIGITALIO and operated by both DIGITALIO and C-POT
- Having official apps on both Android and iOS platforms
- Being published by Asahi Shimbun, a major Japanese newspaper
- Having multilingual presence on Wikipedia across 10 different language editions
- Having a unique blend name combining "koto" (word) with "bank" (database)

## Body
### Basic Information
Kotobank is a Japanese search website that functions as an online encyclopedia, dictionary, and web service. Its Japanese name is コトバンク (Kotobank), which is a blend word combining "koto" (word) with "bank" to suggest a "word bank" or dictionary resource. The service was launched on April 23, 2009.

### Ownership and Operation
Kotobank was developed by DIGITALIO and is operated by both DIGITALIO and C-POT. The publisher is Asahi Shimbun, one of Japan's major newspaper companies. The service's terms of service can be found at https://kotobank.jp/rule/.

### Online Presence
Kotobank's main website is https://kotobank.jp/ and it can be contacted via email at mailto:kotobank_support@cartahd.com. The service has a Twitter account with the handle @kotobank and a Facebook page. It also has an official app available on both Android and iOS platforms.

### Content and Features
Kotobank serves as an online encyclopedia, web service, website, and online dictionary. It uses a search formatter URL (https://kotobank.jp/gs/?q=$1) to process search queries. The service is available in Japanese and has been featured on multiple language editions of Wikipedia, including Catalan, English, Spanish, Persian, French, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Portuguese.

### Recognition and References
Kotobank has a sitelink count of 12 in Wikidata and is identified by its Google Knowledge Graph ID /g/11b6_3p2p1. It also appears in Niconicopedia and Pixiv Encyclopedia under the identifier コトバンク. The service's hashtag is #Kotobank.

## References

1. [Source](https://kotobank.jp/rule/)
2. [Source](https://kotobank.jp/support/)