Japanese Bookbinding

For centuries the West has admired Japanese books, but only now can we make them ourselves and take full advantage of their creative possibilities. Stunning and practical, these bindings are ideal for preserving calligraphy, letters, artwork, and poems, for adding a distinctive touch to limited-edition books, and for use as diaries or gifts.

Japanese Bookbinding is a foundational text, in print for a half-century, by third-generation bookbinder Kōjirō Ikegami. The book demystifies Japanese binding techniques with easy-to-follow instructions. Details on all the major, historically important styles of Japanese bindings, as well as traditional book cases—the custom-made folding boxes that afford handsome protection for Japan’s exquisite books—are included here.

The authoritative text, written by one of Japan’s leading professional bookbinders, has been fully adapted for Western readers. Both American and Japanese suppliers of traditional tools and materials are provided and substitutes are recommended for items not readily available.