Today, I would like to introduce “Men Who are Possessed by the Type,” written by Jiro Katashio.
Centered in Japan in the early Showa era, crossing the era and different countries, 11 men who were deeply involved in letterpress printing are described. This is a recommended book for anybody interested in learning about the history of printed word culture in Japan. Various types have been developed historically, but many arranged types suffered damage and were dissolved during wartime. It is not a matter-of-fact history book. Along with the episodes related to each man and ways of the world at the time, history is told. The content of the book is dense with careful reading and understanding of the documents and thorough interviews, conducted through family visitation, etc.
An anecdote that left an impression on me was the fact that many Tokugawa clan retainers were in a group that played an important role in letterpress printing in the early Meiji era. As there are many convincing reasons for it, please check this book. out, if you are curious.
Book Information:
“Men Who are Possessed by the Type”
Author: Jiro Katashio
Publisher: Robundo
Purchase Information:
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4800312744/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_FWC5SYCKQ5NJPYDGKBE3
（T.I）
Series archive Recommended Book / Book of the Month
- Book of the Month (November 2024): “There are Characters”
- Book of the Month (October 2024): “Man and Writing”
- Book of the Month (June 2024): “New Design Guide: Design of Japanese Language”
- Book of the Month (April 2024): “Mincho Type: Its Origin and Formation”
- Book of the Month (February 2024): “Stroll with Typography: Observation of Characters on the Road”
- Book of the Month (September 2023): “Shintaro Ajioka’s Typeface Course”
- Book of the Month (July 2023): “Men Who are Possessed by the Type”
- Book of the Month (February 2023) : “The Visual History of Type”
- Book of the Month (December 2022) : “Reading Letters”
- Book of the Month (October 2022): “SANS SERIF”
- Book of the Month (June 2022): “’Typeface’ is Created”
- Book of the Month (March 2022): “Size-specific adjustments to type designs”
- Book of the Month (December 2021): “The Field Guide to Typography: Typefaces in the Urban Landscape”
- Book of the Month (November 2021): “Designing Type”
- Book of the Month (October 2021): “Writing Vertically Creates the Scenery of Words – Why Do We Need Two Japanese Writings in Vertical and Horizontal?”
- Book of the Month (September 2021): “Kanji, Katakana, and Hiragana – History of Japanese Notation”
- Book of the Month (August 2021): “Scripts: Elegant Lettering from Design’s Golden Age”