Hello, this is Tomigaya Letterpress.
Last week on December 6th (Saturday) and December 7th (Sunday), the event was held at the Miruru Library in Nasushiobara City. Noda, a staff member at Tomigaya, attended the event and will share the aftermath of the special workshop at the "5X Letterpress + Libri Finti Clandestini Exhibition " (hereafter referred to as the 5XLFC Exhibition).
For details about the 5XLFC exhibition, please see the bottom of this article or past articles in the archives.
We would like to thank everyone who came and participated in the workshop over the past two days! Thank you very much.
The 5XLFC exhibition at Tomigaya Letterpress Kuroiso store will still be on display for some time this year, so we hope you will use this article as a reference before visiting.
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First, let me tell you about the printing workshop that took place on Saturday, December 6th.
The event began as soon as the Miruru Library opened. Participants arrived one after another,
The flyer for 2024 will have the same specifications. 5X Letterpress will be invited again for a letterpress printing workshop. The program will run for four hours from noon to evening. I'm curious to see what kind of works will be created!
- 2023 5X+LFC Special Workshop / Flyer -
- 2024 5X Letterpress Workshop / Flyer -
The program, titled "Letterpress Printing Workshop," was taught by 5X Letterpress. In this workshop, participants worked in pairs to create posters, incorporating a variety of materials into their designs in addition to type.
"If the ink will stick, it can be printed." This is something that anyone, whether they know about letterpress or not, would understand, but for some reason, it seems like it's not something they've ever really thought about. Everything is made into a "print." Is this a step up, or a challenge? No, no, it's neither, I think it's more like "playing around."
It's during these playful moments that we discover things like, "Is it okay for something like that to happen?" Sometimes, when you're messing around with someone and having a moment to relax, you can make discoveries and find new opportunities. For those of you who think, "I think I had one when I was a kid..." or "I guess I've become obsessed with it...", including myself, why not take this time to reminisce? ...or something like that.
I want even those who say, "This is the first time I've ever done this!" to try it out. Because there are things hidden in those "first times" that we don't realize. I think that's why we use materials other than type in this workshop.
- A commemorative photo of the 2023 Poster Special WS -
- A commemorative poster from the 2024 WS -
Within the four-hour time limit, both trainers and participants worked together to create their own works, all of which were enjoyable. The works, which incorporated wire mesh, bubble wrap, and torn pieces of paper, offer a glimpse into the possibilities of letterpress printing!
- Printed by participants of the 2023 and 2024 poster workshops -
>>2025 [Letterpress Printing Workshop] See ticket details
[Terminology Supplement]
Edition
- Raised letters and illustrations used in printing. Ink is placed on the raised areas, and paper is placed on top of it and pressure is applied to transfer the ink to the paper.
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By the way, the program planned for 2024 is a printmaking experience using linoleum. The instructor is an illustrator called "tent." You can see his Instagram post from the link below.
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The lecturer at the bookbinding workshop was This is Libri Finti Clandestini . This is a creative experience where participants share a workspace but work individually. You will learn how to make a book using inexpensive, readily available tools, without using specialized bookbinding tools.
What's more, the finished product is hardcover! It really does become a proper "book"... It looks like it will quickly become a familiar addition to your bookshelf at home. So, what did he do?
- 2023 Bookbinding Workshop -
There are lots of papers and fabrics on your desk. Magazine pages, scraps, The books are made using things that you wouldn't normally put inside a book, such as colored paper and scraps of fabric, so they have a unique look. The materials have different textures and sizes, and just mixing and collecting them all together makes for a fascinating piece.
The tools used are all familiar items. Scissors, cutter, tape and glue. It seems that clips are also used. If you can't find it in Japan, you can probably get it easily at a 100 yen store.
The paper used in the workshop included discarded paper from the Tomigaya Studio, so there were some letterpress-printed pieces scattered here and there. It was a bookbinding workshop unique to the letterpress community. Let's take a look at the actual books that were made!
- Samples from the 2023 Bookbinding Workshop / Various materials, such as paper and cloth, are bound into books -
- A commemorative photo from the 2023 Bookbinding Workshop -
>>2025 [Bookbinding Workshop] See ticket details
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What did you think? I hope you learned a little about letterpress printing, bookbinding, and 5X Letterpress. I'm glad you learned about Libri Finti Clandestini !
This special workshop is held every year, and tickets are limited, so if you have the opportunity or are interested, please join us! We look forward to seeing you in Kuroiso this year!
( Details of this year's event are listed below. Please refer to them if you are interested.
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[About 5X Letterpress]
5X Letterpress is a duo consisting of a graphic designer and an avant-garde printer. They create works using not only type but also a variety of materials, all using old letterpress printing machines. Since forming in 2018, they have produced numerous works that go beyond existing concepts of graphic design, using a variety of materials found in old printing shops and flea markets.
>>WEBSITE / 5X Letterpress
>>Instagram
【About Libri Finti Clandestini】
Libri Finti Clandestini Libri Finti Clandestini (Libri Finti Clandestini) produces many experimental book-style works, printing them using discarded paper from paper mills and type rescued from defunct printing factories.
He has also produced experimental works in which he hand-binds selected publications printed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, renumbering the pages and allowing readers to discover new stories in the reborn books.
With each turn of the page, old letters and mysterious characters come to life. Due to his creative style, many of his works are produced in one or very limited runs. In order to create a work, he must conduct in-depth research into the material beforehand, and his field extends beyond editing to include photography, typography, and urban studies.
>>WEBSITE / Libri Finti Clandestini
>>Instagram
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[Event Overview]
Exhibition period: December 6th (Sat) – December 25th (Thu) 2025
Opening hours: 11:00–17:00 (Exhibition closes at 15:00 on the final day)
Location: TOMIGAYA Letterpress Kuroiso
Closed: None
7-26 Honmachi, Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture
TEL: 0287-73-8942
◎3 minutes walk from JR Kuroiso Station
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Joint Project
Canvas Art Urban Development Association / Tomigaya Letterpress
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