An unique guide jacket produced in letterpress printing by the shop. (Photograph by The Japan Information)
The Kagurazaka neighborhood of Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, the place the publishing business thrives, is dotted with printing shops that mix in with the residential space.
Amongst these shops, I discovered one with an eye catching signal with kanji characters that learn “Katsuji,” or printing sort. Established in 1917, Sasaki Katsuji-ten (Sasaki sort retailer) carries on the normal letterpress printing method, by which staff craft and decide up one sort at a time.
Upon getting into the shop, guests will discover a row of aged picket cabinets that go up almost to the ceiling behind a counter that shows samples of printed supplies. The shop is alleged to have greater than 7 million items of Japanese typefaces, alphabets, symbols and extra, in additional than 10 completely different sizes. On the second ground, there may be an automated typefounding machine manufactured greater than 60 years in the past that’s nonetheless operational.
printing sort refers to a typeface utilized in letterpress printing. Letterpress printing entails the next 4 processes: typefounding, by which a convex sort is made on the finish of a lead alloy sq. bar; letter choice, by which the letters are chosen from cabinets in keeping with the textual content; typesetting, by which the chosen sorts are organized to make a typesetting plate; and printing, by which the letters are printed utilizing a typesetting plate.
Letterpress printing was launched to Japan within the early Meiji interval (1868-1912) and helped dramatically unfold print media akin to books and newspapers. Nonetheless, the business declined with the event of extra superior printing know-how.
Sasaki Katsuji-ten initially specialised within the sale of convex sorts. At its peak, the shop had about 20 craftsmen. Nonetheless, because the printing business started to shrink, the shop started to interact in letter choice, typesetting and printing.
Katsuyuki Sasaki, 49, the fourth-generation president, give up his job within the development business when he was 36 to take over the household enterprise. His father, Seiichi, now 82, opposed the choice, however Katsuyuki overruled his objection, saying: “I need to preserve the shop in some way. I’ll do it myself.”
“The attraction of printing sort is the typeface. Letterpress printing makes even small letters clearly readable and naturally offers a really feel that’s not present in fashionable printed supplies,” Sasaki mentioned.
The shop has acquired many orders for enterprise playing cards lately. There’ll at all times be individuals who search printing sorts with a craftsman’s blood working by each single letter.
Sasaki Katsuji-ten Tackle: 75 Enokicho, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo Entry: About 10-minute stroll from Kagurazaka or Waseda stations on Tozai Line Word: The shop organizes guided visits of the typefounding course of.
0
0
