[Unit Project 2] Book Jacket Made from Paper

Where do you think that book jackets are the culture? Book jackets are not common outside of Japan. In other words, book jackets originated in Japan. It is said that used book stores started wrapping books in paper in the Taisho period (1912-1926). At that time, they were called "shohi(書皮)" in Japanese. The purpose of use in the Taisho period was to show that the customer paid for the book and to advertise the book store. Today, they are used to keep book clean and not to know which book you are reading. So these days, more and more people have their own original or individual designed items.

I often read in public, so I am embarrassed to be seen what kind of book I am reading. Then I remembered that bookstores used to put book jacket on my new book. These days, I am less likely to be asked, "Would you like a book jacket?" and with the spread of automatic cash registers, this service is decreasing. So I decided to make my own book jacket easily and without spending a lot of money. Since then, I have been reading books with a book jacket made like this.


You will need:

・A desk

・A book (You want to read)

Ingredients:

・A piece of paper (Match the size of the book)(ex: book size→paper size, a pocket edition book→A4, a book bigger than a pocket edition→B4)

(・A book (You want to read))

Procedure:

1. First, put the paper on the desk and put the book on to the left of half of the paper.

2. Next, make a crease on the paper. Make it on the left, top, and bottom sides of the book.

3. Bring the right side of the paper over the book. 

4. Make a crease on the left, top, and bottom sides of the book. This completes the making a crease process.

5. Remove the book from the paper.

6. Fold the paper in the same direction along the crease. This will result in the top, bottom, left and right sides being folded.

7. Put the folded paper on the book. 

8. It is ready to use.

My instructional video ↓

You can arrange your handmade book jacket in your original. You can attach stickers or photos on it, or draw on it as you like. You can even use your favorite color paper. You will have your original book jacket, one of a kind in the world.
I used paper that matched the color of the book cover. It is very nice.

I am sure the book jacket you make will be very nice.