The present invention relates to a retrieval method for searching a first character element string obtained by subjecting a character string to character recognition for a second character element string. The first character element string includes a first character element and the second character element string includes a second character element. A distance relevant to a similarity between the first character element and the second character element is predetermined between the first character element and the second character element. The retrieval method comprises the steps of comparing the distance with a predetermined reference distance, and determining whether the second character element matches the first character element based on a result of the comparison of the distance with the predetermined reference distance.