Story #8: How We Achieved Apple’s Top App Ranking with 7notes

I was deeply committed to perfecting the handwriting experience. To achieve this, I had a specialized development tool created that allowed us to adjust parameters such as writing speed, acceleration, duration, pen pressure, curve responsiveness, and line thickness. I personally fine-tuned these aspects to ensure the best experience. The handwriting recognition technology was developed in collaboration with Professor Masaki Nakagawa from Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, who generously provided his expertise.

This led to the creation of the handwriting system "mazec." The name comes from the Japanese word "mazeru," meaning "to mix," highlighting its unique ability to seamlessly combine kanji, hiragana, and katakana characters in handwriting. In Japanese, there are three types of characters, and mazec allows users to integrate them effortlessly. One key feature of mazec is its responsiveness when tracing on a touch panel with a finger or stylus. Achieving a reaction time of mere fractions of a second was critical. I told the development team, "It has to reach a level I’m completely satisfied with," and after many iterations, they succeeded in delivering just that.

When we released the app under the name "7notes," the response was phenomenal—it reached the number one spot on Apple’s app rankings. But what made me happiest was hearing my 86-year-old mother say: "With this, I can use it."

Her words became the tagline for 7notes.

My mother had worked as a manager at the city office. Part of her job involved handwriting certificates, and she would often bring stacks of paper home on Sundays to complete them. Because of this, she had a deep appreciation for the value of handwriting. Although she never used word processors like Ichitaro, which required keyboard input, she immediately embraced 7notes.

And so, this marked a new chapter for Hatsuko and me.

At Justsystems, we had focused on creating software like "Ichitaro" for PCs, designed for careful, desk-based work. But with the emergence of the iPad, which freed users from the limitations of keyboards and mice, the landscape shifted.

Now, we could develop apps that people could use anytime, anywhere. This was particularly significant for fast-paced environments where conditions change constantly, and delays are unacceptable. Even the slightest lag can cause frustration for users. We envisioned an app that could be used instantly and effortlessly.

And so, our journey to innovate didn’t stop there. What came next was another step forward—one that would build on this success and take us closer to redefining productivity.