Omoshiro Japan #1 by Oke is a beautiful zine about traditional Japanese candies.
The use of a soft seigaiha (say-guy-hah) pattern across the background provides a traditional Japanese motif that anchors the pages without distracting from the content. The colour palette is muted and creamy, mirroring the sugary, nostalgic themes of the candies themselves.
The designer uses circular crops for the photography, which serves two purposes
- Flow: The round shapes break up the rigid grid of the text, creating a nice scrapbook-like feel.
- Focus: It draws the eye directly to the product details, like the texture of the Meiji Dice Caramel or the irregular shape of a Fujiya Milky.
One of the most striking features isn’t digital at all—it’s the center-stitch binding. The visible green thread in the gutter reinforces the handmade aesthetic. It reminds the reader that this is a labor of love.
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