The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-07
rHEJAPANEsE PRINTING OFFICE

In the current number OF the Chicago
Inland Printer, the leading organ OF that
trade In this country, Mr.. f. II. Peacock
of Melbourne, Australia, describes the
wonderful progress made by the Japanese
In typefounding and printing, Contrast
ing the Japanese printing office OF thirty
years ago with that Of to-day, he tells the
story OF q remarkable national achieve
ment.
The first picture, that Of the old time
Japanese printing office, shows the shop,
about twelve feet square, open to the street.
The printer was working on a wrapper
for stock, printed in gold and three colors.
No types were used, the printing being done
from wood blocks.
The design was drawn out. the various coiors
separated, and each color engraved on different
parts OF the Same block. about lixi6 inches. both
sides being used. The printer, squat on the noor
held the block between his knees slsnting against
his chest: he applied the ink with brush laid his
sheet TO lay marks on the block. and took his I'm
preston by rubbing the back OF tho paper with a
round, Dat disk. In different parts Of the block
were the engravings OF the different colors. While
the gold was being printed the other parts had
niece OF paper stuck over them to prevent them
printing. and SO skilfuly WAS the linking done that
very little got beyond the actual printing limit.
In this way millions OF serviettes and
pictures were printed, and the same method,
with minor improvements conducting to
increased facility OF handling and rapidity
Of execution, Is used In many Of the smaller
inland towns to-day. So expert are the
workers and 30 economically Is the process
carried out that the printing can be done
at the rate Of 400 copies an hour.
To-day, however. says this writer, Japan
Possesses printing Offices equipped with
the finest machinery made In Europe.
and the Japanese publish hundreds Of
newspapers daily, and thousands Of books
every year They can compete
in production with the biggest firms in
the world was told by an agent
of the Bible Society that Japanese firm
had rendered for printing and binding the
English Bible In Japan, and shipping them,
paying all charges, landing them in New
York for 20 per cent. less than they can be
produced In America
The pioneer typefounder and printer OF
modern Japan was Motogi Nagahisa, born
in 1924. As q commercial interpreter he
learned something about the Western world.
and, foreseeing the time when Japan would
be compelled to throw open her ports to
commerce. he understood the necessity
that would fall upon her Of acquiring a
knowledge Of Western arts and sciences.
He did much to faniliarize his people with
the use OF steam engines. but his greatest
and distinctive service to his country was
rendered when, In the eighth decade OF
the century, he established the first Japa-
nese type foundry at Nagasaki.
Most interesting Is the description Of q
representative Japanese Office OF to-day,
with its various departments Its modern
apparatus, the work done in English and
with the Japanese characters; and significant
Of the irrepresslble spirit Of this new-old
people Of the East is their conquest Of the
difficulties Of one Of our finest inventions,
and their rapid and complete mastery Of
Its mysteries.