Miyako Akai's Miniature Books

Miyako Akai's all work list including sold out



Miyako Akai's miniaturebooks, notebooks, books, drawings and letterpress printed postcards available list is here.







Some books are avairable at the book shops:
Yamagoya Arts and Books Online Shop(Tokyo)
John Howell for Books(California)
Roko Shobo(Tokyo)
Tamura Shoten(Tokyo)
MOTOYA Book Cafe Gallery(Tokyo)
FRAGILE BOOKS (online, Tokyo)

Karen Nyman Miniature Books（California)
Javier Meras(Argentina)
The Kelmscott Bookshop(Baltimore)

Akai Miyako's miniature books are held by private collectors in Japan, Hong Kong, the United States, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Australia, and elsewhere, as well as in the following collections:

The MBS Archives at the Lilly Library of Indiana University, USA (Caged, Dancing on the Cloud, Greetings from Here, Letters, Tsuki-yo-no-Mahiru, Beautiful Book etc. Miniature Book Competition Exhibit every year)

at Lilly Library, Indiana University, USA, 2019

The Caroline Brandt Collection, the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia, US（Ame ni mo makezu casebindings, Issen Ichibyou Monogatari）

The Cynthia Sears Collection at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, US (Encapsulated, Beautiful Book Special Edition)

Washington University Libraries (Encapsulated)

The Rare Book & Texana Collections at University of North Texas Library, US (Strips)

Filac Collection at ATELIER VIS A VIS, Marseille, France（For You special edition, Please Open）

House of Wisdom, Sharjah, UAE (Sonomama Mamehon)

Book Art Museum, Poland (Small Gift)

National Diet Library of Japan（Mamehon 12 ka getsu）

Biography

Miyako Akai lives in Japan. She is a PhD in architecture and environment system, Toyohashi University of Technology. And also she was chosen as the final candidate for new face award of major novels in Japan. From 2001 she started making books of her own story. When she made books of short stories, they are getting smaller in the course of time, then they became miniature books.

She has sensitivity for paper and material and her books are bound with extra care in such a way she makes architectural miniature models.

Her style is characterized by the fact that she designs contents as well as cover. Due to her originality, she has been introduced more than 40 medias including major newspaper, magazine, TV and radio in Japan. She wrote 3 books about miniature book binding.

In 2006 for the first application to MBS she grabs the award. Now she organizes and sets up booth and workshop, and acquires a good reputation.

From 2007 for more than 10 years she learned bookbinding, gilding, repair and conservation of books. She owns a letter press machine as book creating is comprehensive art like architecture.

>> Presentation Talk at the Miniature Book Society 40th Conclave, Los Angeles (August25, 2024)




Making Alice's Adventures in Wonderland miniature book



- Speech in 2006 MBS Conclave (sent by Email) -
"Nakamura and I, Akai, are overwhelmed by the great honor you have given us. Our little piece of work with bamboo and paper is the first winner from Japan! It's almost too good to believe.
I wish we could be present at the announcement. Let us express our gratitude to you all.
I hope more people are interested in the long tradition of paper arts in Japan.
Thank you very much."

She is a member of Miniature Book Society since 2007. a member of Tokyo Book Binding Club.

'Dancing on the Cloud' has been named one of the three Distinguished Award Winner Books by Miniature Book Competition 2007.

'Tsuki Yo No Mahiru' has been named one of the three Distinguished Award Winner Books by Miniature Book Competition 2016.

2019 The Miniature Book Society's Norman Forgue Award for "to honor her outstanding contribution to the world of miniature books."

'Beautiful Book' special edition has been named one of the three Distinguished Award Winner Books by Miniature Book Competition 2021.

'Dogs Cats' special edition has been named one of the three Distinguished Award Winner Books by Miniature Book Competition 2022.

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