Have you ever tried making a book? It might be easier than you think!
Let's talk Japanese Bookbinding or 和装本 (Wasoubon). Specifically four hole binding or stab binding. This particular style of book binding is probably what you've seen if you've come across a Japanese book that has been bound using a traditional method. There are many other book binding techniques, but this is one of the more common and easily recognizable.
History
When it comes to Japanese stab binding, it became primarily used during the Edo period. It stands out from other forms of binding because of how the book is bound together through the covers rather than along the spine. Traditionally, this binding style only used soft covers, but now people have found ways to incorporate the hard cover as well. This method remained a popular choice for the binding of commercial books until almost the 1900s when western style binding became the dominant method.
Where does the title go? On the title strip of course! On the upper left hand corner of the cover (or opposite top corner of the binding side), there is typically a vertical, rectangular strip of paper. The covers of these books are often very minimalist. Coming in either solid colors or various patterns with the only writing typically being on that title strip.
How Do I Make One?
What were these books made of? Paper, paper, paper, and thread of some sort! Compared to other book binding projects, this style of book binding is beginner friendly and can probably be done with things found around the house. When I make these books myself, I often just use printer paper and maybe construction paper for the front and back covers.
The technique for binding the pages together is fairly simple once you get the hang of it! It also uses a continuous thread for the binding, so no need to worry about cutting or tying until the very end of the project.
I would recommend using the signature method for assembling your pages since your book be smaller and easier to carry around. A "signature" is what you call a single stack of paper in your book. I typically make my books 4-5 signatures with five sheets of paper (also called folios) in each signature. By folding a folio in half once horizontally, you end up with four boxes, which makes four pages in your book (two on each side). So if your signature uses 5 folios, that makes 20 pages! And if you have 5 signatures, with 5 folded folios in each, that means your book has 100 pages in total! I would not recommend using anything thicker than printer paper for this method.
You also don't need to fold your paper at all if you don't want to. You can take a stack of 50 folios and still have 100 pages (you use the front and back). This also means you'll have a larger book.
Here is an additional resource on signatures and how to put them together!
What do I need?
Printer Paper
Needle
Thick Thread (Wax thread is what I use, but yarn, twine, or even ribbon would work too!)
Awl or Single-Hole Punch (or anything to poke even size holes with- a thumb tack works great!)
You don't need the following items but they're nice to have:
Bone Folder (for making your signatures nice and flat! A plastic card (your U card, old gift card, etc) is also a great alternative)
Construction Paper (for a thicker cover if you want)
All of these are sold at the bookstore in Coffman Memorial Union!
Process
Trying to explain how to do this binding through a blog post is difficult. Although this technique is way more simple than other techniques, it is very precise and won't work if you accidently miss a step.
So, do you have your materials ready? Great! Here is my favorite video that taught me how to bind my own books. As well as some other fun videos! Happy book binding!
This video uses the signature style if you want a smaller book and it's the one I used to learn this method!
Resources