Yale Exhibition Explores Japanese Crêpe-Paper Books from Meiji Era
The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University is presenting 'Textured Stories: The Chirimen Books of Modern Japan,' an exhibition examining Japanese crêpe-paper books known as chirimen-bon. These illustrated volumes, produced from the 1880s to 1950s, feature Japanese folklore and fairy tales. They played a significant role in cultural dissemination during Japan's modernization period following the Meiji Restoration. The show includes 70 books and highlights publisher Hasegawa Takejiro, whose company created bilingual editions for Western audiences. The exhibition runs until May 3, 2026, in Connecticut.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Textured Stories: The Chirimen Books of Modern Japan' is on view at Yale's Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library
- Chirimen-bon are Japanese crêpe-paper books produced between the 1880s and 1950s
- The books feature Japanese folklore and fairy tales, including the 'Five Great Fairy Tales' like Momotaro
- Publisher Hasegawa Takejiro created bilingual editions for Western audiences during Japan's Meiji era modernization
- The exhibition includes 70 books and explores production techniques using woodblock printing on washi paper
Entities
Artists
- Kobayashi Eitaku
- Suzuki Kason
- Chikanobu
Institutions
- Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University
- Rosenberg Library Museum
Locations
- Connecticut
- Texas
- Japan