INDEX
The Mystery of “Emo” Printing
The exhibition’s grand finale is an 8K high-speed camera video installation called “The Factory,” showcasing the printing and bookbinding processes. There are two 15-minute videos: one on the making of Weekly Shonen Jump and another on the production of Jump Comics. Although the idea of watching 15 minutes of printing initially seemed surprising, the time passed in an instant once the footage began. Beyond its educational, field-trip-like intrigue, the video was emotionally powerful. It captured the intense passion of everyone who has contributed to ONE PIECE over the years. The high-speed printing machines seemed to embody the readers’ own passion and eagerness to “see and read” the work. It felt as if the story itself moves forward, propelled by these tailwinds.
In striking contrast to the meticulously close-up footage, are the aerial photographs by Naoki Honjo, displayed throughout the exhibition. The subjects of these photos are buildings related to Shueisha and the printing factories, among others. Honjo’s unique style of capturing urban landscapes as if they were miniatures felt perfectly suited to this exhibition. After all, miniaturizing something always signifies something important. It’s a way of folding away stories that will eventually conclude, or technologies and jobs that will one day change, keeping them small and preserved in the corner of one’s heart. It seemed as if the curator’s wishes were embedded in this sentiment.
