Special exhibition
September 2, 2025–May 3, 2026
Chirimen-bon, or crêpe-paper books, were a type of Japanese illustrated book produced between the 1880s and the 1950s and made with textured, fabric-like paper. They came into existence alongside textbooks for Japanese learners of Western languages, and often served as souvenirs for Western visitors to Japan. They covered a wide range of Japan-related topics—fairy tales, folklore, cultural traditions, holidays, festivals, performing arts, and scenes from everyday life—in English, French, German, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and other languages.
Info: https://beinecke.library.yale.edu/exhibitions-visiting/special-exhibitions
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtFbkjIIaA0