Behind-the-Scenes Story of "KOKI ZOO: Animal Drawings by Koki Kinoshita"
In order to express the artist's world in the form of a book, various efforts were made in the editing, design, printing, and binding. What kind of people were involved in the production, what skills did they use, and what were their feelings?
We will introduce the story of how the book was made.
Episode 2: Misuzudo x KOKI ZOO "What an adorable book!" (Released October 13, 2024 )
Episode 1: Fujiwara Printing x KOKI ZOO "Printing that conveys a positive impression" (released October 4, 2024)
We will release more in the future! Look forward to it!
Episode 3: Fruit Cafe Saita!Saita! Pre-sales in a special place, earlier than anywhere else
Koki Kinoshita held his first exhibition in 2017 when he was still a first year high school student. The exhibition took place at fruit cafe Saita! Saita! in Motomachi, Kobe. Since opening in 2004, the cafe has been very popular for its smoothies, juices, fruit sandwiches, parfaits, and other items made with plenty of fresh fruit.
The owners have always been warmly supporting Koki. "Atelier Koki Art Exhibition" has become an almost annual event, and this year will be held from November 7th to December 15th.
1-1-15 Aioicho, Chuo-ku, Kobe City
Casa Luce Building 1F
078-362-6737
Weekdays 11:30-18:30 (L.O. 18:00)
Weekends and holidays: 11:30-17:30 (last orders 17:00)
Closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sunday, November 24th
For Koki, this place is a kind of sacred starting point, so Studio K also wanted to offer his first art book at this place and asked the bookbinding company, Misuzudo, to send us some books earlier than the others.
"KOKI ZOO: Animal Drawings by Koki Kinoshita"
Dimensions: 12.7 x 1.4 x 16.5 cm
Number of pages: 64
Number of works included: 44
Price: 3,600 yen (excluding tax)
For more information about the exhibition, please visit the cafe's website or social media. Please note that the original artworks will not be available for sale this time.
The official release is coming soon! It will be available online and at bookstores, so we will let you know when the release date is decided.
Episode 2: Misuzudo x KOKI ZOO "What an adorable book!"
Misuzudo is a bookbinding company with a bookbinding factory in Ina City, Nagano Prefecture, and a sales office in Tokyo. Since its founding in 1983 by bookbinding craftsman Matsuo Kamijima, the company has specialized in handmade bookbinding and has continued to produce books that impress creators and artists who are great fans of this company.
Matsuo Kamijima, who is 85 years old this year, is loved and respected as a "master". Today, the bookbinding factory is managed by factory manager Shin'ichi Kamijima, a skilled bookbinder. Meanwhile, Akiko Kamijima works as a coordinator between publishers, authors, artists, and others who want to have their books made at Misuzuido and the factory itself. For "KOKI ZOO", she was so helpful as a consultant from the beginning.
The book is bound in a style which fulfills our request that "large pictures should be displayed on a double page spread, which opens 180 degrees, without being cut in the middle." In this style, paper is folded in half and glued together at the back .
We visited the bookbinding factory just as the binding process was starting. I assume that it is difficult for many people to imagine how to make a book by hand. I've made a video of the process, so please take a look. The skilled bookbinders' dexterity is just amazing.
It's already been a long time since we said that machine binding method spread, and nowadays, the number of e-books is increasing to the point that the term "paper book" feels natural. In such circumstances, "KOKI ZOO" is made by hand one by one like this. Rather than a book, it is a piece of art in the shape of a book . We have delivered the first commemorative copy to the artist, who appears at the end of the movie. The day when you can get one in your hands is just around the corner.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Shin'ichi Kamijima, who came up with various ideas, and Akiko Kamijima, who said, "What a lovely book!" and to everyone at the factory who put their heart and soul into this book.
Episode 1: Fujiwara Printing x KOKI ZOO "Printing that conveys a positive impression"
Fujiwara Printing Co.Ltd. is a printing company that began in 1955 when a female typist set up Fujiwara Type Co. in a corner of her home.
Today, tthe third-generation brothers are at the forefront of the business. They are in high demand in all areas, as they are known for working with people to find ways to make whatever they want come true.
This time too, just as they said, "We will make sure you are absolutely satisfied," the result was a wonderful one that we were very happy with.
As regards the technical aspects, the paper used is soft and gentle B7 Bulky . To express the vividness of Posca, they decided to use special inks that are a mixture of basic cyan, magenta, yellow, and black with fluorescent colors. Although the paper is thick, LED-UV printing realizes ultra-fast drying, thus preventing adhesion between printed materials and eliminating dry-down, even with a lot of ink.
What impressed us most, however, was that, rather than simply reproducing the original artwork, they interpreted the message of the work and expressed it in the form of a printed book.
"I wanted to express the positive message and impression of Koki's drawings," Hideaki Hanaoka, the printing director, said. His words echo the voice of the artist's fans saying, "Koki's drawings make everybody smile." The meaning of the Fujiwara Printing's company motto " shinsatsu" (printing with all our heart) made perfect sense to me.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Sales Representative Akitsugu Fujiwara, Printing Director Hideaki Hanaoka, the captain, and everyone at the factory.