Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on April 2010

Courtesy of Winged Wheel

Foreign observers are apt to mock the reverence with which Japanese people treat business cards, but if our meishi looked at nice as these, we’d expect them to get a bit of damn respect. Stationer par excellence Winged Wheel makes personalized meishi with handmade cotton paper, using floral designs inspired by Meiji-era woodblock prints. In a break from modern production methods, the cards are printed with a letterpress set at a low pressure—a technique that apparently ensures beautiful results.

Series #610 Personalized Calling Cards, ¥12,000 for 100. Available from Winged Wheel: 4-5-4 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-5785-0719. Closed Tue. Nearest stn: Omotesando, exit A2. www.winged-wheel.co.jp