In a limited edition production with family-run bookbinders Shinohara Shiko, we are proud to present the Washi edition of Volume 03: Gods. The Washi collector’s edition is a Bradel-bound hardback featuring a 1:1 scale sculpture of a rock incorporated into the cover. The rock is brought to life through traditional washi paper — a warm, organic, and textured material. Due to the hand-crafted nature of each cover, no two are perfectly alike in look and feel. Each papier-mâché rock on the cover is sculpted with handmade washi paper by craftsperson Gen Taniguchi of Nao Tesuki Washi in Saga Prefecture. Washi has long been used in Japanese ritual and Shinto practice, and wrapping a form in washi echoes a tradition of using it for repair and preservation. Volume 03: Gods examines the close relationship between religion and culture, exploring how people today experience and interpret traditions through their craft and life's work. Produced in collaboration with a group of talented writers, academics, writers, translators, and illustrators, the stories in this book are as diverse as they are intellectually voracious. They run the gamut from the state of religion in Japan today to mythological imagery in anime; from a deep dive into Iwami Kagura folk dance theatre with roots in Shintoism to how one Buddhist monk has revamped his temple for modern times. Standard international shipping is included. Delivery times will vary by destination. Also see our companion Volume 03 collector’s edition, the Void.
