Maggs Bros.

Goto Seikichiro’s illustrated observations of paper-making in Fujinomiya, including samples of lacquered paper. As with most Goto productions, the book includes text in Japanese and English, and each section is beautifully illustrated with Goto’s katazome stencil printed plates.

In the foreword, the publisher Bunsho Jugaku writes about how delighted he is with Goto’s latest work: “My expectation has been fulfilled. A few years after his residence at the foot of Mt. Fuji, the fruit of his labour took the shape of a charming collection of papers of his own making. In the world of handicraft no jumping is allowable. Only long years of study and hard work bear good fruit. Mr. Goto began with tapping his paper-making materials; it must have been tedious, pain-staking work for him. Besides, every Japanese was forced to live from hand to mouth after the war, so much so that Mr. Goto’s assiduity in such a situation is worthy of special mention.”