The 2019 Japanese documentary Book-Paper-Scissors (つつんで、ひらいて), named the 2020 Honorable mention in this year's Pittsburgh Japan Documentary Film Award, will screen online on September 25. A summary, via Japan Cuts:
Nobuyoshi Kikuchi is a man contentedly out of step with the times. Forgoing modern technology, the 77-year-old master book designer (soutei-ka) has utilized the traditional tools of scissors, rulers, and pencils to design over 15,000 extraordinary book covers by hand throughout his decades-long career. With careful, philosophical consideration of every aspect of the process, Kikuchi also chooses the paper and ink to best represent the essence of each book. Filmed over three years, this passion project from Hirokazu Kore-eda protege Nanako Hirose (whose late father was also a book designer) matches Kikuchi’s contemplative and considerate approach to his craft, offering a thoroughly measured portrait of the pursuit of perfection and 94 minutes of ASMR for design enthusiasts and bibliophiles.The free event starts at 7:00 pm and is followed by a conversation with director Nanako Hirose. It will be hosted live on Vimeo.