Kenji Takenata support to produce the project to restore Sagahon wood type, typesetting, and paper.

Musashino Art University, Art and Design Research Center "Exploring the Beauty of Sagahon Utaihon - Restoration Project of the Old Type Print of "Mii-dera""

At the exhibition "The Origins of Japanese-style Publications Using Japanese Language Writing" held at the Musashino Art University Museum and Library from November 1st to December 18th, 2018, the Sagabon Noh book "Mii-dera," which Takezasado helped to restore, as well as wood type and printing equipment, were exhibited, and demonstrations and lectures were held.

The Musashino Art University Center for Art and Design's research project "Comprehensive Study of the Culture of Printing Text in Early Modern Japan" is holding an exhibition at the Musashino Art University Museum to showcase the results of its research, showcasing the diverse beauty of "Japanese-style published books" revisited from a design and other artistic perspective. One of the exhibits in this exhibition, "Exploring the Beauty of Sagahon Utaihon - Restoration Project of the Old Type Edition of 'Mii-dera'," involved Takezasado cooperating with the restoration, from the production of wooden type and paper to typesetting and printing.

The Sagabon Noh book (commonly known as the "Koetsu Noh book") published during the Keicho period has not yet been fully clarified in its technical background, as the wood type and printing plates used for printing no longer exist. Therefore, in this project, Takezasado's craftsmen were involved in reproducing and verifying the wood type and paper decorations, based on the knowledge of woodblock printing technology they have accumulated through research conducted both in Japan and overseas. The venue also exhibited the restored Noh book "Mii-dera," as well as approximately 2,000 wood type characters and typesetting in a font devised for this project, intricately carved with outstanding craftsmanship.