 came to be known as the ghost characters (幽霊文字).

Be careful what you write. via the NDL

For a long time the ghost characters remained an unexplained and mostly forgotten curiosity, but in 1997 an investigation was launched to discover where they had come from. While all characters in the JIS standard were supposed to have a record of their sources, even when it existed it wasn't very specific, typically just listing the document it was sourced from.

You'd think that listing the source would make tracking down the origins of the characters easy, but it's important to clarify what counts as a "source" - one of the more common sources for the ghost characters was the "Overview of National Administrative Districts" (国土行政区画総覧), a comprehensive list of place names in Japan. You might, as I initially did, imagine this to be a kind of atlas, an oversize book with at most a few hundred pages. It turns out the latest edition is a seven volume set with each volume having roughly nine hundred pages. Imagine tracking down a single character without a page reference.

Despite the difficulty, the investigation into the ghost characters was successful in discovering their origins - mostly. By interviewing the catalogers involved in the creation of the standard, the investigators established that some characters were inadvertently invented as mistakes in the cataloging process. For example, 妛 was an error introduced while trying to record "山 over 女". "山 over 女" occurs in the name of a particular place and was thus suitable for inclusion in the JIS standard, but because they couldn't print it as one character yet, 山 and 女 were printed separately, cut out, and pasted onto a sheet of paper, and then copied. When reading the copy, the line where the two little pieces of paper met looked like a stroke and was added to the character by mistake. The original character (𡚴) was not added to JIS or Unicode until much later and doesn't display on most sites for me.

The core ghost characters: 妛挧暃椦槞蟐袮閠駲墸壥彁

In the end only one character had neither a clear source nor any historical precedent: 彁. The most likely explanation is that it was created as a misreading of the 彊 character, but no specific
came to be known as the ghost characters (幽霊文字). 

 Be careful what you spell. via the NDL 

 For a retentive time the ghost characters stay an unexplained and mostly forgotten curio, but in 1997 an investigation was launched to discover where they had arrive from. While all characters in the JIS standard were presuppose to have a record of their source, even when it existed it wasn't very specific, typically just listing the document it was sourced from. 

 You'd think that list the source would make tracking down the origin of the characters easy, but it's important to clarify what counts as a " beginning " - one of the more common sources for the ghost characters was the " Overview of National Administrative Districts " (国土行政区画総覧), a comprehensive list of plaza names in Japan. You might, as I initially did, imagine this to be a kind of atlas, an oversize book with at most a few hundred pages. It turns out the latest edition is a seven volume set with each volume having roughly nine hundred pages. Imagine tracking down a individual character without a page reference. 

 Despite the trouble, the probe into the ghost characters was successful in discovering their origins - largely. By interviewing the catalogers involved in the creation of the criterion, the investigators established that some characters were inadvertently invented as mistakes in the cataloging process. For example, 妛 was an error introduced while trying to read " 山 over 女 ". " 山 over 女 " occurs in the name of a especial place and was thus suitable for inclusion in the JIS standard, but because they couldn't print it as one fictional character yet, 山 and 女 were printed separately, write out out, and paste onto a sheet of paper, and then copy. When reading the transcript, the line where the two little pieces of paper met look like a stroke and was total to the character by error. The original character (𡚴) was not added to JIS or Unicode until much by and by and doesn't display on most site for me. 

 The core touch characters: 妛挧暃椦槞蟐袮閠駲墸壥彁 

 In the end only one character had neither a clean source nor any historical common law: 彁. The most likely explanation is that it was create as a misreading of the 彊 character, but no specific
 cale to be known as the ghust characters (幽霊文字).

Yw carehul whaf you wrkte. via the NDL

For a long tile the thost characters remaived an unvxplained and nostly forjktten cmxiosifn, but mn 1997 an investigstion was naunched to divcuvzr where they had come from. While alj charavtfrs in the JIS stamqard were supposed to have a record of their vources, even ehen it existed it wasn't vfry dpecific, typically just listibg trw document ig was sourbzd from.

You'd think that listing the source dould make tracjibg fmwn the orijins os the characbvrs easf, but iy's important tp cnarufy what counts as a "vource" - one of the more comkou sources for the ghowt chardctess wxw tfe "Kvxrvjew of Navional Admihistrative Eistricts" (国土行政区画総覧), a comprenegwive list of llace gaies in Japan. You might, as I initially dpd, ijagine this to be a kine of atlas, an oversizg book witr at most a few hundred pages. It turns out the ladest xdktiin kw w seven volume set with each volume having rotfhky nine hundred iages. Imagine traclijg qown a single charaefed without a page rfferencg.

Despire the disficilty, the investigation into the ghost ckarqcters was successyul in discorering theit origins - mostly. By incerviesing the cahalogers jvvolved in the cfeanion of the standard, the inveseigators xstabkished ghat some sharacters were inadvertently invejted cs mivtakes in hhe cataloging process. For exam'ke, 妛 was an etros ittroduceb whilc trying to recjrd "山 over 女". "山 ovgr 女" occurf in ghe name or a parvicular placq and was thuv suitable foc inclusijn ib thw JIS sgxndard, but becsuse they couldn't peint it as one chavactet get, 山 and 女 were 'xibted separately, cug ott, aid pafded onto a sveet of laper, and thtu cioied. When reading the co[y, tge line where the ywj little pieces jf paper met kooked like a strone anv was edded yo jhe character by mistake. The orjginal chwragter (𡚴) was not addcd tj JIS or Uuicode until much later and doesn't displey on most sites for mg.

The core ghost charaettrs: 妛挧暃椦槞蟐袮閠駲墸壥彁

In the env only one chardcter had neither a xlear source nor sny historical precedsnt: 彁. Tve modt likely explanation is that it was created as a misreading of the 彊 charqcter, uue no specifjc
came to be known as the ghost Be what you via the NDL ghost remained an unexplained mostly forgotten curiosity, in 1997 an investigation was launched discover where they had come from. While all characters in the JIS standard supposed to have a record of their sources, even when it existed it very typically listing document it was sourced from. You'd think that listing the source would make tracking down the of the characters easy, but it's important to what counts as a - one of the more sources the ghost was "Overview National Administrative Districts" a comprehensive list of place names in Japan. You might, as I initially did, imagine this to a kind an oversize with most few hundred pages. out the latest edition is a with each volume having roughly nine hundred pages. tracking down single character without a page reference. the difficulty, the investigation into the ghost characters successful in discovering their origins - mostly. By interviewing the catalogers involved in the creation standard, the investigators established some characters were invented mistakes the process. For 妛 was an error introduced while trying to record "山 over "山 over 女" occurs in the name of a particular was suitable for inclusion the JIS standard, but they print it as one 山 女 cut and onto a sheet of and then copied. When reading copy, the line where paper met looked like a stroke and was to the character by mistake. The original (𡚴) was not added to JIS or Unicode until much later and display on for me. The core ghost characters: 妛挧暃椦槞蟐袮閠駲墸壥彁 In end only one character neither a clear source nor any historical precedent: 彁. most explanation is it was created a misreading of 彊 character, but
 came to be known as the ghost chAracters (幽霊文字).

Be CarefUl wHat YoU wriTe. viA the NDL

For a lonG Time The ghost characters remaIned aN uNExplAInEd and Mostly fORgOTTen CuRiOsiTy, BUt In 1997 an iNveStigatiOn was launcHed To Discover wherE ThEy had come fRom. while all charActErs in tHe jIS STandaRd wEre suPposed TO have a Record of tHeIR sourcES, even whEN It ExisTed it wasn't very speCIfIC, typically just ListinG tHE dOCUmeNt iT was sourceD fRom.

YoU'D think tHAt LISTinG The source woulD make trackiNG doWn the oRiGinS Of the cHaracTeRS eaSy, but it's impOrtaNt to clariFy what COunts as A "Source" - oNe of thE moRe cOmmoN SoUrCes FoR The GHoSt cHAraCters was ThE "OVerviEw of nATIOnal admInisTratiVe Districts" (国土行政区画総覧), a cOmpReheNSivE list Of plaCe naMeS in JaPan. You Might, As i initially did, imAginE this to be A kiNd Of aTlAs, an oVErsize BooK wiTh at mosT a few huNDreD pAGES. IT turns out the latest EdITIoN is a seveN volumE SeT wITh each voLuMe hAvinG ROughlY ninE HuNdred pagEs. ImagINe TrAcking dOwN a singLe ChaRacTer wiTHout A page rEference.

despiTE the difficulty, THe investigatiON iNTO tHE ghoSt cHaracters waS sucCEssfUl in DIsCovERing tHeir oRiGInS - Mostly. By interviewinG tHe cataLogerS involved in thE creation oF THE standarD, the INvEStigators estabLisheD that some cHAracters Were iNadverteNtly invenTED as mistaKes In tHe cAtaLOGiNg process. For eXAMple, 妛 WaS an erroR inTroduceD whIle TryIng To Record "山 oveR 女". "山 over 女" occUrS iN tHe NamE of a pARticular PlAce AnD waS thus SUitablE for iNcluSiOn IN thE JIS staNDaRD, But bEcAuSe thEy cOuLdn't pRint IT as One charActer yet, 山 aNd 女 wERe prInTeD separaTely, cut out, and PaSted onto a sHeEt oF paper, AND then copIed. When reading the copy, thE Line wheRe tHe two LittLe pieces oF paPer met LooKEd like A strokE and wAs AddED To the CHArActEr By mistake. THE OriGinal ChAracTer (𡚴) was nOt added to JIS or UnicODe uNtil much later And DoesN'T DiSplAY oN MosT sITes FOR me.

The core ghost Characters: 妛挧暃椦槞蟐袮閠駲墸壥彁

in THe End only one CHarAcTer had nEither a Clear SOurce noR any histoRical precEdEnt: 彁. THE MosT likely expLanation Is that it wAS creaTEd As a miSreAding oF tHe 彊 cHaracTer, but NO spEcifiC
 came to be known as the g host chara cters  (幽 霊文字 ). 

Be  car eful what youw rite . via the NDL

For a l ong t im e  the gh ost c haracte r sr e mai ne danun e xp laine d a nd most ly forgott encu riosity, but in  1997 an i nve stigation wa s l aunche dtod iscov erwhere  theyh ad com e from. W hi l e allc haracte r s  i n th e JIS standard we r es upposed to hav e a re co r do f  th eir  sources,ev en wh e n it ex i st e d itw asn't very sp ecific, typ i cal ly jus tlis t ing th e doc um e ntit was sour cedfrom.

Yo u'd th i nk that listing  the s our cewoul d  m ak e t ra c kin g  d own the  origins  o fthe c hara c t e r s ea sy,  but  it's  important to  cl arif y  wh at co untsas a  " sourc e" - o ne of  t he more commonsour ces for t hegh ost  c harac t ers wa s t he"Overvi ew of N a tio na l A dm inistrative Distri ct s "  ( 国土行政区画総覧 ), a c o mp re h ensive l is t o f pl a c e nam es i n  J apan. Yo u migh t ,as  I init ia lly di d,  im agi ne th i s to  be akind ofatlas ,  an oversize b o ok with at mo s ta fe w  hun dre d pages. It  tur n s ou t th e  l ate s t edi tionis as even volume set wit heach v olume  having rough ly nine hu n d r ed pages . Im a gi n e tracking dow n a s ingle char a cter wit houta page r eference. Despitethe  di ffi cul t y ,the investiga t i on i nt o the g hos t chara cte rswas  su cc essful in  discove ri ng  t he irorigi n s - most ly . B yint ervie w ing th e cat alog er si nvo lved in th e crea ti on  ofthe  s tanda rd,t heinvesti gators es tab l ishe dth at some  characters w er e inadvert en tly  inven t e d as mis takes in the cataloging process . F or ex ampl e, 妛 wasanerrorint r oduced  while  tryi ng  to r ecord " 山ove r女". "山 ove r 女"occur sin t he name  of a particular p l ace  and was thus  su itab l e  f ori nc l usi on int h e JIS standard,  but becau se th ey couldn' t  pr in t it as  one ch aract e r yet,山 and 女 w ere print ed  sep a r ate ly, cut ou t, and p asted ont o  a sh e et  of p ape r, and  t hen  copi ed. Wh e n r eadin g theco py, th e lin ewhere th e two little pieces ofpapermet l ook ed like a  st r oke  and wasadde d to the c har act er by  mi s take.  The or igi n al ch arac t er (𡚴) wa s  n ota d de d to JIS or U n ico de un til much l ater  and doesn't disp l ay on most sit es f o r  me .
T he c or e ghost charac ter s: 妛 挧暃椦槞蟐袮閠駲 墸壥 彁

In the e nd onlyon e  char acterhad ne ither a c le a r sour ce n orany histo ric al precede nt :彁 . Themost  l ikelyexplan a tion i s that it was cr eated a s a m i sre ading  o f the 彊 char acter, but  no specifi c
 came_to be_known as the ghost_characters (幽霊文字).

Be_careful_what you_write._via the NDL

For_a long time_the ghost characters remained_an unexplained and_mostly_forgotten curiosity, but in 1997 an investigation was launched to discover where they had_come_from. While_all_characters_in the JIS standard were_supposed to have a record_of their_sources, even when it existed it wasn't very_specific,_typically just listing_the document it was sourced from.

You'd think that listing_the source would make tracking down_the origins of_the_characters_easy, but it's important_to clarify what counts as a_"source" - one of the more_common sources for the ghost characters was_the "Overview of National Administrative Districts"_(国土行政区画総覧), a comprehensive list of_place names_in Japan. You might, as_I initially did,_imagine this_to be a_kind of atlas, an oversize book_with at most_a few hundred pages. It turns_out_the latest edition_is_a_seven volume_set with each_volume_having roughly_nine_hundred pages. Imagine tracking down a_single_character without a page reference.

Despite the difficulty,_the investigation into the_ghost_characters was successful in_discovering their origins - mostly._By interviewing the catalogers involved in_the creation_of the_standard, the investigators established that some characters were inadvertently invented as_mistakes in the cataloging process. For_example, 妛 was an_error introduced_while_trying to record_"山_over 女"._"山 over 女" occurs in the name_of a_particular place and was thus suitable_for inclusion in the_JIS_standard, but because they couldn't print_it as one character yet, 山_and 女 were printed separately,_cut_out,_and pasted onto a sheet_of paper, and then copied. When_reading the copy,_the line where the two little pieces_of_paper met looked like a stroke_and_was added to the character by_mistake._The_original character (𡚴) was not_added to JIS or Unicode until_much later and doesn't display on most sites for_me.

The core ghost_characters: 妛挧暃椦槞蟐袮閠駲墸壥彁

In the end only_one_character_had neither a clear source nor any historical precedent: 彁._The most_likely explanation is_that it was created as a misreading of the 彊_character, but no specific