Tokyo Tsukiji Type Foundry

Tokyo Tsukiji Type Foundry: Founded in the late 1860s by Motoki Shozo, often referred to as the “Gutenberg of Japan,” the Tsukiji Type Foundry had its beginnings in Nagasaki. In 1872, the company relocated to Tokyo’s Tsukiji district. After changing its name to Tokyo Tsukiji Type Foundry, the business thrived under the leadership of Tomiji Hirano. The firm boasted a wide array of services, including printing techniques such as lithography, collotype, and halftone, alongside typesetting. Its influence permeated the Japanese printing industry, leaving its mark on newspapers, magazines, maps, and books up until the 1930s. The firm also ventured into producing postage stamps, showcasing its adaptability and innovation.

The Tsukiji Type Foundry played a pioneering role in introducing movable English language type to the Japanese printing scene and, from that, became instrumental in advancing movable Japanese language type technology as well. Gradually, its dominance faced challenges as other typeset printing enterprises emerged. Competitors like the Ministry of Finance Printing Office and Shueisha, which later evolved into the present-day Dai Nippon Printing Co. (established 1876), and Toppan Printing Co. (established 1900), gradually eroded the influence of the Tokyo Tsukiji Type Foundry.

In addition to its printing ventures, the company collaborated with Takejiro Hasegawa, producing color woodblock prints for some of his books. Noteworthy printers engaged in this endeavor included Nomura Sojiro and Takagi Rintaro, further showcasing the Tsukiji Type Foundry’s diverse capabilities and contributions to Japanese print culture.