This special feature reports on four case studies of activities that made use of the knowledge of digital archives in the short period of time following the Noto Peninsula earthquake of 2024. In this article, the chief editor of the special feature introduces the intention of the project and the outline of the cases as a general introduction. In addition, from the perspective of the broadcast archive, we will discuss the issue of portrait rights, which is an important point to keep in mind for disaster-related images, and the value of images of the city before the disaster struck. The four cases consist of two that demonstrate the function of media in accurately conveying information on the disaster situation, and two that are directly involved in the disaster area and provide support for reconstruction. The other two cases are directly related to the disaster area and support for reconstruction. Each of these cases offers suggestions for those involved in digital archiving as to what they can do in the event of a disaster.

On 1 January 2024, the Noto Peninsula Earthquake of 2024 occurred, causing extensive damage. We created a 3D map using open data and no-code tools, while collaborating with professionals on SNS. Newspaper journalists under the author's academic supervision also published a 3D map on the day of the disaster, utilising news photographs, through bottom-up and rapid action. These contents were accessed in large numbers and contributed to the rapid communication and analysis of the disaster situation, for example by confirming the safety status on SNS and by being used in mass media reports. These methods can be utilised in future disaster response.

A large amount of disinformation and misinformation spread over the Noto Peninsula earthquake occurred on 1 January 2024, causing confusion. This article attempts to summarise what kind of disinformation and misinformation was generated and shared as the phases of the disaster (onset, rescue, evacuation, recovery and reconstruction) changed with the passage of time since the earthquake. The spread of disinformation and misinformation has become a major problem not only during disasters, but also worldwide. In this context, digital archives, such as ministry and primary information archives and verified data, have been a major countermeasure. There is a need to create a database to share the spread of disinformation and misinformation and the fact-checking content that has verified it.

This report is based on interviews and discussions about the movement towards the formation of community archives and various spaces for dialogue in the six months following the Noto earthquake. The activities and words of Hiroko Myokan of the joint venture EIZO Workshop, artist Natsumi Seo and Hikari Suzuki of the Disaster Reduction Lab are primarily focused on the function of the 'record' that should exist alongside 'community reconstruction'. From this, the project considers the relationship between the ongoing real-time 'record', the role of 'outsiders' who play a part in its accumulation, and the past 'archive on disasters'.

AMANE.LLC, an academic company headquartered in Ishikawa Prefecture, has been deeply involved in the Noto Peninsula region through research and study of archival materials, etc. In 2021, the company concluded a memorandum of understanding with Wajima City and others to preserve and pass on local archival materials, including ancient documents in the Wajima area. This paper outlines the working group established immediately after the Noto Peninsula earthquake of 2024, introduces information on materials in the Noto Peninsula region published in the AMANE Archives, which AMANE has constructed and made public, and introduces the material rescue activities that AMANE is cooperating with and implementing.

The "Digital Archive Charter" places the "right to archive" at the foundation of the Charter as a fundamental right that citizens have to preserve records of the past and present in order to lead rich and comfortable lives, and to allow everyone to continuously access and utilize materials from the past and present. In light of this, the state of digital archives should be examined in tandem with the training of archivists, who are human resources who are engaged in the planning, development, maintenance, management, and utilization of digital archives by citizens on their own initiative. We would like to clarify the relationship between the "Charter for Digital Archives" and the philosophy and current status of digital archives, the ideal state of human resource development, and the direction of the qualification system, as conducted by the Study Committee for Human Resource Development and Utilization of Japan Society for Digital Archive.