"Charming" printing | Kounkan Typesetting

May 14, 2025

Hello. This is TAG STATIONERY STORE.

We are pleased to announce that new items from Kounkan Typesetting have arrived.
We would like to introduce you to some items that allow you to experience the texture and flavor that comes from handmade work.

Unique beauty created by handwork

Hirountan Typesetting was a printing company founded in 1883 in Kashiwara-cho (present-day Kashiwara-cho, Tamba City, Hyogo Prefecture).
This is a printing company that has been carrying out letterpress printing for over 100 years.

While many of the letterpress printing shops that were once numerous across the country have disappeared, in 2018 we restarted a full-scale printing business specializing in letterpress printing after 100 years.

The breath of letterpress printing that resonates through time

The name of the Kounkan Printing Factory is also included in the Hana no Shiori magazine, which was published during the Meiji period.
This book is a collection of works that demonstrate skill and beauty, produced at a time when printing companies from all over the country competed to be the best.

Kashiwara Town flourished as a castle town, and even after the Meiji Restoration, it was the region where government agencies were concentrated, resulting in high demand for printing.
The printing works of the Kounkan Typesetting Company, which was born there, still leave their mark on the "Hana no Shiori" magazine.
It transcends time and conveys the spirit of handcrafted work from that time.

A warm design created by rare reliefs

The appeal of letterpress printing is its uneven texture and the way the ink blends into the paper. At Hirounkan Typesetting, we use printing machines that have been used for many years and make delicate adjustments to suit the characteristics of the paper to produce one-of-a-kind printed materials.

Hirounkan's specialty is retro and classic Art Nouveau to Art Deco designs using rare letterpress reliefs that are no longer in production. The delicate design, combined with the unevenness unique to letterpress printing, creates a unique and tasteful texture.

A commitment to paper that brings out the charm

We are particular about the selection of paper, from traditional Japanese paper to Western paper. We carefully select paper that has a comfortable feel and takes advantage of the texture unique to letterpress printing. We recommend this to handwriting enthusiasts, as well as those who want to learn more about the world of letterpress printing.

Letterpress printing is often thought of as intimidating, but Hirountan Typesetting produces many letterpress products that are easy to incorporate into your daily life. They have a wide range of items, including postcards, memo pads, and notebooks, that will make writing more fun.