We want to deliver Japanese paper printing to the future. Shubunsha Printing, a downtown factory in Koto-ku, Tokyo started a crowdfunding campaign on May 26, 2012.

Shubunsha Printing Co. (Location: 1-11-11 Shin-Ohashi, Koto-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Nobuyuki Suzuki) launched a project on CAMPFIRE on Monday, May 26, 2025, to produce "Washi memo blocks" using the finest Mino Washi paper. This project, which reached its goal within one week of its launch, aims not only to sell products, but also to expand awareness of the rare "Washi printing" technique in Tokyo and to pass on the traditional technique to the future. In today's paperless society, we have taken a new step forward through crowdfunding in order to spread the value of "lost technology" that is being preserved by local factories. Currently, we are challenging to reach the next goal.

Project page: https://camp-fire.jp/projects/832650/view

Washi memo block main

Background of the start of the project: Disappearing Washi paper printing technology and the challenge of a local factory

The printing industry has long been called a "declining industry," and many local factories have fallen on hard times due to the wave of digitalization and paperless printing. Shubunsha Printing is no exception, and has been making daily efforts to survive.

Then one day, we received a request to print sake labels (Japanese paper) for Japanese sake. It was at this time that we learned that Japanese paper printing, which we had taken for granted until then, was actually a "rare technology" that only a few companies in Japan could perform.

Thereafter, the company developed its sales activities using its proprietary technologies, such as offset printing on Mino washi paper. When the company sold its self-developed washi notepads at the Koto Ward Citizens' Festival, it received a great response, selling 300 in two days.

The company decided to challenge crowdfunding for the first time in order to spread awareness of the fact that there is a factory in Tokyo that can print on washi paper and to keep the technology alive.

Printing scene 2

Features: Features of Washi printing and significance of the project

Shubunsha Printing's Washi printing is capable of offset printing on Mino Washi, one of the three Yamato papers in Japan, as well as multi-color printing with up to four colors (or more than five colors upon request) using special colors.

This technology is becoming a "lost technology" today and can only be realized by a few companies in Japan. We have received high acclaim both within and outside the industry, including a feature article in Graphic's "Design no Hikidashi" and our selection as a "Koto Brand" certified company by Koto-ku, Tokyo.

Reference: "Design no Hikidashi" published by Graphic, information on companies certified as "Koto Brand" by Koto City, etc.

The "Washi Memo Blocks" produced through this crowdfunding project are designed with printed town names of downtown and downtown Tokyo, and are a gem of washi paper texture and printing technology.

The essence of this project is to expand awareness of the traditional technology of washi printing and to create new encounters with companies and creators who are dedicated to the craft.

Washi printing can be applied to a wide range of fields, including sake labels for sake breweries, letterhead and envelopes for stationery stores, wrapping paper and handbags for department stores, sutra paper and red seal books for temples, tatami paper for the kimono industry, hanging paper and luncheon mats for restaurants, and luxury business cards for hotels and overseas markets.

Future Prospects: Pioneering the Future of Washi Printing

If awareness of washi printing spreads through crowdfunding, we are considering developing memo blocks on various themes, such as the names of places in Japan, the 100 most famous mountains in Japan, warlords, and Japanese surnames.

Through word of mouth about this challenge, we were also approached to collaborate with a famous calligrapher.

In addition to memo blocks, we have also received inquiries about business cards and letterheads using Mino Washi.

We will also focus on developing products that differentiate us from our competitors, such as contributing to the overseas promotion of Japanese sake culture through the production of Japanese paper labels for sake breweries, high-end wrapping paper for department stores and famous confectionery stores, and special letterheads and envelopes for stationery stores.

In the future, we aim to establish a specialized store for Shubunsha printing and to establish a system that enables us to sell our own brand products directly from the order industry.

By becoming known as "Shubunsha Printing of Washi Memo Blocks," we hope to overcome the crisis of the survival of the local factories and pass on our traditional technology to the next generation.

Washi memo pad

■Project Details

Project name: Using [lost technology] to open up the future!

　　　　　　　　　 We want to protect a long-established printing company that has been in business for 67 years.

Price ： 10,000 yen to 17,000 yen (tax included)

Sales Method ： CAMPFIRE Crowdfunding

　　　　　　　　　　( https://camp-fire.jp/projects/832650/view )

Start Date ： May 26, 2025 (Monday)

End Date : June 30, 2025 (Monday)

Product features: Design with the name of a town in Tokyo, Mino Washi paper and special printing

Future development: Various designs are planned, such as the names of places in Japan, the 100 most famous mountains in Japan, and military commanders of the Warring States period.

Application fields: Sake labels, stationery, wrapping paper, sutra paper, business cards, products for hotels, etc.

<Example of crowdfunding returns

(1)★Early Bird's Nest! 20% OFF [Washi Memo Blocks: Tokyo's Famous Places - 1 Set Plan] 8,000 yen

(2)★Early Bird's Nest! 20% OFF [Washi Memo Blocks: Tokyo's Downtown Places 1 Set Plan] 8,000 yen

(3) [Washi Memo Blocks: Downtown Tokyo Famous Places 1 set or 2 sets Plan] 10,000 yen or 13,000 yen

　 You can choose one set from a selection of famous downtown Tokyo landmarks.

(4) [Washi memo block: Tokyo downtown landmarks 1 set or 2 sets plan] 10,000 yen or 13,000 yen

　 You can choose one set from among the designs of famous downtown places.

(5)★Early Bird's Nest! 20% OFF [Japanese Paper Memo Blocks: Your Own Original Product 1 Set Plan] 10,400 yen

(6) [Washi memo block: 1 set or 2 sets of your own original item plan] 17,000 yen

　 We can print your favorite words and your favorite seal characters (up to 4 characters for both).

SNS

X (former Twitter): https://x.com/syubunsya_h

Instagram ： https://www.instagram.com/syubunsya/

YouTube ： https://www.youtube.com/@SYUBUNSYA

Company Profile

Company Name ： Shubunsha Printing Co.

Location: 1-11-11 Shin-Ohashi, Koto-ku, Tokyo

Representative: Nobuyuki Suzuki, President

Establishment: December 1, 1958 (Registered as a corporation)

Capital ： 10 million yen

Business description: DTP, printing business (Japanese paper printing, special printing)

Number of employees: 8

Company website : https://www.shitamachi.net/syubunsya/

E-mail : syubunsya@shitamachi.net

For inquiries from the general public regarding this matter, please contact

Shubunsha Printing Co.

TEL ： 03-3634-2766

E-mail : syubunsya@shitamachi.net

　　　　 (8:30-17:30)