J Type 101: First English Guide to Japanese Typography by Koyubi Studio
Brooklyn-based Koyubi Studio has launched J Type 101, the inaugural English-language guide dedicated to Japanese typography. Developed by Mio Kosaka, Mizuki Hanada, and Monet Fukawa, this comprehensive 44-page manual offers insights into hiragana, katakana, kanji, and grid-based typesetting, addressing the lack of English materials on the topic. It begins with fundamental concepts and progresses through ten practical lessons that explore alignment, spacing, punctuation, and the integration of Japanese scripts with Latin letters. J Type 101 has been honored with an ICMA 2025 Award of Excellence and is available at five indie bookstores in the US and Japan, as well as at the Tokyo Art Book Fair.
Key facts
- J Type 101 is the first English-language guide to Japanese typography.
- Created by Mio Kosaka, Mizuki Hanada, and Monet Fukawa of Koyubi Studio in Brooklyn.
- The book is a 44-page primer covering hiragana, katakana, kanji, and grid-based typesetting.
- It includes ten practical lessons on vertical/horizontal setting, spacing, line breaks, punctuation, and mixing Japanese and Latin characters.
- J Type 101 received an ICMA 2025 Award of Excellence.
- Stocked at five independent bookstores across the US and Japan.
- Shown at the Tokyo Art Book Fair at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo.
- The guide aims to help designers understand Japanese type, not just admire it.
Entities
Artists
- Mio Kosaka
- Mizuki Hanada
- Monet Fukawa
Institutions
- Koyubi Studio
- Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
- Tokyo Art Book Fair
Locations
- Brooklyn
- United States
- Japan
- Tokyo