Art Book “Tadoru” and Photo Book “Hiraku

Art Book “Tadoru” and Photo Book “Hiraku

This project began with a request from Yume Hoshino, who wished to compile her grandmother’s paintings into a single book. Her grandmother, Masako Aoki, had created over one hundred works over five decades, which her grandfather Tomoyoshi Aoki photographed and digitized, while Yume handled the editing. Having studied and experienced the craftsmanship culture of Tokyo’s Sumida district, Yume chose ITO BINDERY as her production partner for its dedication to precision and warmth.

To achieve high quality within a limited edition of 100 copies, we combined UV inkjet and on-demand printing techniques. Through repeated prototyping, we refined the balance between structure and texture. The 2 mm recycled cardboard made from corrugated material was selected for the cover, while U-Light paper was used for the inner pages for its soft texture, and TANT paper for the endpapers. Using Codex-style thread-sewn binding, the book opens completely flat at 180 degrees, allowing each page to be viewed naturally and without distortion.

The finished set consists of two complementary volumes: the art book “Tadoru” (265 × 210 mm / 112 pages) and the photo book “Hiraku” (265 × 180 mm / 32 pages). Inspired by ITO BINDERY’s Drawing Pad, the books feature thick board covers designed so that a mountain illustration connects seamlessly when stacked together.

A transparent PET special case holds both volumes, completing the work as a single piece where family memory and craftsmanship quietly converge.