Japanese Papers Coming Soon

American Book Arts has plans to offer limited edition coptic journals covered with specialty Japanese papers, both Chiyogami, also referred to as Yuzen, and Katazome-shi, also referred to as Wazome, which are exceptionally beautiful and durable papers particularly suited to bookbinding.

What's the difference between Chiyogami and Katazome-shi? Chiyogami is screenprinted on a base paper made of kozo and sulphite. Every color is a layer silkscreened onto the paper, and in most cases these papers have at four or five colors. Katazome-shi, based on traditional kimono printing, is stencilled onto a kozo base paper by hand, a time consuming process that produces intense colors and stunning patterns.

You can read up these gorgeous papers and browse them online at the Japanese Paper Place. If you find something you want that ABA does not have in stock, we take custom orders contingent upon paper availability. Just contact me at claire@americanbookarts.com with the paper number (located under the sample image, ex. "732C"), desired number of books, and your contact information. There is a minimum order of three books, $35 each, but you can mix and match papers to your heart's content--up to one kind of paper per book.