Help from digital materials
The best tool for the recognition of characters (kanji or kana) that you cannot recognize is the AI-powered dictionary developed by Prof Hashimoto Yuta:
It is very easy to use. Just screenshot a character that you cannot recognize, copy-paste it in そらまる and get help for this very powerful dictionary.
Other useful online resources
Charts for hentaigana
Paper dictionaries for cursive kanji
Kodama Kōta 児玉幸多(ed.), Kuzushiji yōrei jiten くずし字用例辞典 (Tōkyōdō shuppan, 2002) > This dictionary allows you to search characters through their radical, the total number of strokes, their on yomi or kunyomi. (There is a CDRom version which runs on Japanese OS)
Kodama Kōta 児玉幸多(ed.), Kuzushiji kaidoku jiten くずし字解読辞典 (Tōkyōdō shuppan, 1993) > This dictionary allows you to search characters on the basis of the order used to write the calligraphic version. It is very cumbersome to use and can be substituted with online materials like the following.
Tōkyō tegami no kai (ed.), Kuzushiji jiten くずし字辞典 (Shibunkaku shuppan, 2000)> This dictionary is extremely helpful for handwritten letters and for nyohitsu 女筆.
五体字類: digitized HERE.
An introduction to sōrōbun
Those who take part in the Summer School have access to the bespoke Reading sōrōbun: A introductory manual created by Prof Laura Moretti.
Basic rules for diplomatic transcription 翻刻
We are aiming to produce diplomatic transcriptions, in Japanese honkoku 翻刻. Producing accurate transcriptions is key when you publish a transcription in its entirety or when you include it in a publication, be it an article, a catalogue or anything else. The rules in the PDF file below have been carefully devised on the basis of what is taught and expected in Japan. You are required to follow these rules throughout the whole summer school. Thank you.
Basic rules for semi-diplomatic transcriptions 校訂文
Japanese Early Modern Palaeography 