Crepe-paper books or chirimen-bon are nineteenth and twentieth-century creations by Japanese publisher Hasegawa Takejirō. Explore these works with us!
Story about a mother’s love passed down through a unique, enchanted gift by Mrs. T. H. (Kate) James. Annotated by Anika James ’25.
Story about a farmer and a trouble-making tanuki (badger) by David Thompson. Annotated by Laura Smith ’25.
Story of Urashima Tarō and his journey to the Dragon Palace by Basil Hall Chamberlain. Annotated by Christina M. Spiker.
This project is funded by the St. Olaf Collaborative Undergraduate Research and Inquiry (CURI) program. CURI provides opportunities for St. Olaf students from all academic disciplines to gain an in-depth understanding of a particular subject through working closely with a St. Olaf faculty member in a research framework.
We are grateful to work under the guidance of Distinctive Collections Engagement Librarian Jillian Sparks. This project would not have been possible without her help.
We have received generous technical assistance from Ben Gottfried, Sara Lynnore, and Anders Nienstaedt.
We also thank the Colorado Antiquarian Book Seminar (CABS) for providing our students with intensive, hands-on instruction regarding the antiquarian book trade in Summer 2024.
Rolvaag Memorial Library Special Collections offers students and scholars access to printed materials from the 15th century to the present. The crepe-paper books you see here can be accessed in-person through our library.