book-paper-scissors is a so-called master artisan documentary, which tells the story of KIKUCHI Nobuyoshi, a respected Japanese book designer. Throughout his life, 75-year-old KIKUCHI created the cover of over 15,000 books, all by hand. The process of drawing with his pen, cutting with scissors, pasting with glue, and sometimes crumpling and straightening paper has a similar fate as that of paper books today, gradually losing their footing in the digitalized world. Filmmaker HIROSE Nanako filmed KIKUCHI for three years with curiosity and admiration, thinking of her late father who was also a book designer. Seen through HIROSE’s eyes, KIKUCHI’s work is not much different from that of a writer or other artists, yet ironically KIKUCHI sees his own work as more functional and technical than artistic. But there is no doubt that bookmaking is a form of art. book-paper-scissors is a beautiful, meditational documentary without frills, just like KIKUCHI’s book covers. (KANG Sowon)