Patent Acquired for OCR Reading and AI Scoring of Written Answers - "AI Go Answer" Japanese Writing AI Auto-Scoring System Aims to Shift Scoring from "Work" to "Next Instruction" -

WaO Corporation (Headquarters: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, President and Representative Director: Hideo Ikemori) is pleased to announce that it has acquired a patent for its invention related to OCR reading and AI scoring of written answers.

This invention pertains to the technological foundation of the Japanese writing AI auto-scoring system "AI Go Answer," developed and operated by WaO TECH Inc. under the supervision of WaO Corporation. By combining the educational insights accumulated by WaO Corporation over many years with WaO TECH's OCR and AI technologies, the aim is to transform the scoring of written answers from a mere burdensome task into valuable information that leads to the next stage of instruction.

This will facilitate the development of a more consistent evaluation framework to address long-standing challenges in the educational field, such as the scoring load for written answers, return speed, and variability in evaluations.

[Overview of Patent Acquisition]

Invention Title

Scoring Apparatus, Scoring Method, and Program

Application Number

JP2025-281021

Patent Number

No. 7879999

Applicant

WaO Corporation

Significance of Acquisition

Clarification of the technological foundation for OCR reading and AI scoring of written answers as intellectual property, strengthening the foundation for utilization in educational settings and the education business.

Registration Date

June 16, 2026

[Background of Development]

While written questions are important for measuring thinking, expression, and reading comprehension skills, scoring them requires advanced judgment and significant time. Particularly in operations based on paper answer sheets, digitalization via OCR, standardization of scoring criteria, and prompt returns have been major challenges.

Against this backdrop, WaO Corporation, based on the insights gained from the scoring sites of "No-Ka Center," has been developing "AI Go Answer" with WaO TECH, aiming to transform scoring from a "draining task" into an "asset that leads to the next instruction." We believe that what is needed for the future of education is not mere efficiency improvement, but fundamental DX rooted in the field.

[About AI Go Answer]

"AI Go Answer" is an AI auto-scoring system born from the scoring sites of "No-Ka Center." Developed and operated by WaO TECH under the supervision of WaO Corporation, it supports improvements in the accuracy, speed, and fairness of scoring Japanese written answers.

It enables end-to-end processing from problem registration, scoring criteria setting, automatic scoring, to performance analysis on a PC browser. Based on the registered scoring criteria, generative AI outputs detailed points for additions and deductions. This significantly reduces evaluation discrepancies among scorers and alleviates the operational burden of written evaluations.

Furthermore, it supports OCR recognition of handwritten answers, enabling DX for written evaluations while continuing to utilize paper answer sheets. It is expected to be utilized in a wide range of fields that handle written answers, including textbooks, mock exams, correction services, and learning systems.

[Implementation Value]

Reduces scoring man-hours by approximately 1/10

Handwritten OCR recognition accuracy of 95%+

Reduces scorer variation to ±0

Significantly shortens the return period for mock exam and practice results

Creates time for instructors to focus on their core teaching and individual instruction

[Additional Patent Applications]

In addition to the technology for which a patent has now been acquired, WaO Corporation and WaO TECH have also filed additional patent applications (JP2026-97502) for new technologies related to "AI Go Answer." This will further expand the technological foundation for reading, scoring, and operational support of written answers, aiming to enhance the value provided to educational institutions and education providers.

[Future Development]

WaO Corporation and WaO TECH will promote DX across the entire market that handles written answers, not only by providing services to schools and cram schools but also through collaboration with publishers, learning system companies, and correction service providers.

Specifically, we envision AI scoring of teaching materials, integration with LMS and learning apps, joint development, and integrated provision of OCR reading + AI scoring for operations involving written answer sheets.

We will continue to develop this system as a mechanism that transforms scoring from "work" to "next instruction," creating new value for both educational settings and the education business.

Details about AI Go Answer can be found here.

Company Profile

[WaO Corporation] Representative: Hideo Ikemori, President and Representative Director Location: WAO Building, 1-5-14 Nakazakinishi, Kita-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture Remarks: Applicant for this invention

[WaO TECH Inc.] CEO: Hideo Ikemori Established: September 1, 2023 Business Activities: IT-related education services and human resource development Location: 530-0015 WAO Building, 1-5-14 Nakazakinishi, Kita-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture

URL: https://waotech.jp/ Email: info@waotech.jp

WaO Corporation operates educational businesses, including cram schools such as "No-Ka Center" and "Individual Instruction Axis," as well as entertainment, overseas, comprehensive education research, lifestyle-related, product planning and development, and human resource utilization businesses on a national scale.

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