(Japanese) Crafter’s Companion

I came across this book today in a shop, and thought that it reminded me a lot of The Crafter’s Companion. This one, about fifty crafty women who make things to sell on the internet, is text-heavy and reasonably priced. There are plenty of photos throughout, and the biggest thing that struck me was that each artist designed her own page in the book, so it all comes together like a mod-podged creation. There are interviews of each artist that go in-depth to discover the joys and trials of turning crafting into an online business. It is big in the U.S., and it is certainly big here.

I notice sometimes in the reviews on Amazon Japan that even the Japanese are growing a bit “ho-hum, yawn” about the Japanese craft books.  This one was different from the others I have seen recently, and although I did not buy it, I enjoyed looking through it.  At the end of the book, there is information about the popularity of rental boxes in small shops.  These are basically little cubbies that you can rent by the month, and from which you sell your handmade products.  These boxes , with a flea market look, give you an idea of what they are.

(P.S.  I would not recommend this book for purchase unless you read Japanese.  It is a fun addition to the craft book scene, for a limited audience.)