ZINE/ZAKKA/FREE PAPER/GALLERY/RISO GRAPH
As a printing shop in Nakameguro,
A risograph studio where we create together.
SUT Risosta aims to be a "local printing shop where you can easily drop by," rooted in the Nakameguro neighborhood.
Even if you're new to risograph printing or feel unsure due to a lack of expertise, please feel free to open the doors to our studio.
This is a collaborative studio where staff members work with you every step of the way, from creating print data to selecting paper and ink, through dialogue and guidance.
We welcome even nascent ideas, such as "I want to bring this idea to life" or "I want to print my hand-drawn illustrations as they are."
Let's make a zine together at Risosta
RISOGRAPH
The appeal of risograph printing
The Risograph, the world's only digital printing press, is a purely Japanese invention, created by Riso Kagaku Corporation, the same company that developed the popular "Print Gocco" in the 1980s. It spread in Europe and America as a special tool for designers, then re-imported into the Japanese design world, and now captivates artists all over the world. Widely used for creating zines and other artworks, this printing method is gaining popularity in the Japanese art scene as well. The ink that supports its unique and vibrant colors is also purely domestic, made from upcycled rice bran. This contributes to reducing transportation energy and is produced as an ecological material that is in harmony with the global environment.
I see the "misalignment," "blurring," and "color mixing (multiplication)" that occur during printing, as well as the variations in the finished print from sheet to sheet, as accidental effects unique to risograph printing. Furthermore, taking these points into consideration, there is a great pleasure in pursuing originality in the finished print by controlling the texture of the paper, the order of the colors to be printed, the density, and the speed. In general printing, there is often a demand to faithfully reproduce the created data, and as someone with practical experience, I have learned the techniques to achieve this. Printing with a risograph has the power to instantly blow away such experience. While I wholeheartedly entrust myself to the risograph ink, I also believe that there are infinite possibilities in further utilizing the characteristics of risograph printing based on my past experience.
<Risosta> Order details and available services
SUT's support menu: We'll guide you every step of the way, from printing to sales, to help you realize your creative vision.
1. Risograph printing
▷Printing by submitting data
This printing service is for those who already have risograph-ready separation data or original artwork. We offer consultations on paper selection and ink combinations, and we print each sheet or book to your satisfaction, allowing you to check the finished product with test prints.
2. Creating lithograph data
▷ Digitization of original drawings and analog works
We scan analog artworks such as acrylics, watercolors, drawings, and photographs and convert them into print data for risograph printing. We carefully deconstruct and adjust the original artwork to create multi-color print data unique to risograph printing, while preserving the original texture and feel.
3. Design and arrangement
▷Design and Risograph Arrangement
From the stage where you "can't create design data" or "have an image but can't give it form," you can entrust us with the entire design process from scratch. We create the design of a complete zine from the ground up, including the overall structure of the booklet (zine), cover design, typography and typesetting of the text, and the placement of photos and illustrations. We also accept consultations on arranging and reconstructing your existing works and materials into visuals that best showcase the unique color reproduction, halftones, and color blending effects of risograph printing.
4. Assistance with ZINE production
▷Comprehensive support for ZINEs and art books
We help you turn your dream of "making a book" into reality. From planning, page layout, and design, to paper selection, printing, and binding (saddle stitching, etc.), and even pricing and sales planning, we provide total support throughout the "create and deliver" process.
5. ZINE consultation and risograph experience
▷ZINE consultation and risograph experience
This is a personalized consultation and experience menu for those who are wondering, "What kind of zine can I make?" or "I'd like to experience the finished product of risograph printing."
*We are not currently accepting applications on a regular basis. If you are interested, please contact us via the inquiry form or speak to a staff member in-store.
6. Sales and Exhibitions
▷Display and consignment sales at SUT stores
The zines, art prints, and paper goods produced at Risosta are sold at the SUT store and online shop, exhibited in gallery spaces, and featured at events such as art book fairs, providing opportunities to present and sell the work.
[Requests regarding use]
◎We handle small-lot and small-quantity printing (large-volume printing is not available).
[Recommended response]
・Booklet/ZINE: Approximately 20 to 100 copies
• Number of pages: Approximately 12 to 150 pages
• Paper size: Up to A3 size (various sizes are possible as long as they are within A3 size, including irregular sizes and smaller sizes).
*Please feel free to inquire about the number of copies you would like printed for single-sheet items (posters, flyers, etc.).
◎Please make a reservation or contact us in advance.
We may not be able to accept walk-in printing requests due to staff absence or overlapping work with other customers.
Please contact us in advance before coming.
◎For those who already know what they want to make
If you have a clear idea of the size, quantity, number of colors, etc., please provide details via the inquiry form for a smoother process.
◎We primarily conduct consultations and productions in person.
Currently, we do not accept print orders that are completed entirely online (mail order format). We only accept orders from customers who can visit our studio and proceed while checking the paper texture and color together.
リソグラフ印刷の注意点
（魅力ポイント）
Risograph printing is not designed to achieve perfect uniformity.
Misregistration, smudging, and color inconsistencies—these "unexpected imperfections" that would be considered unacceptable in normal printing—are precisely what makes risographs so appealing (and unique).
This guide is for those who enjoy this "experiment," including the unique ink colors that differ from those displayed on the screen.
- Misprint
Due to the printing process, which involves layering inks by changing drums for each color, the colors will be randomly shifted by up to 2-3 mm. Even with reprints or within the same batch, the colors will never overlap in exactly the same position. Please enjoy this as an artistic expression that takes the shift into account, such as intentionally shifting the plates to reveal the base color or using the transparency of the outlines in your designs.
Blurring/Double lines (single color, blurring due to paper quality)
Unlike "registration errors" involving two or more colors, even in single-color (one-color) printing, line drawings and thin text may appear slightly doubled or blurred.
Even with common paper suitable for risographs, this can occur randomly, and it's not uncommon to find cases where "there were no problems with the test print paper, but when printing on the final thick or specialty paper, the print became inconsistent." Please enjoy this as a unique characteristic caused by differences in machine behavior due to the paper's thickness, stiffness, and surface texture.
・Cassure
Because the amount of ink extruded from the stencil varies from sheet to sheet, particularly thin letters, delicate lines, and subtle gradients in halftones may appear blurred or broken. This creates a rough, warm texture reminiscent of hand-printed silkscreen or letterpress printing, something that cannot be achieved with uniform, crisp lines.
- Uneven color
Even when using the same data and ink, variations in shading appear randomly depending on how the ink is applied. This is particularly noticeable in solid areas (filled areas) where ink consumption is high, resulting in a unique rough texture and gradient-like appearance. We hope you will appreciate this as a characteristic of printmaking that cannot be found in uniform solid colors.
Roller marks
When printing in three or more colors or double-sided printing, the paper feed roller may pass over already printed ink, causing dark, tire-mark-like lines (smudges) near the center of the paper. As you feed multiple sheets of paper in succession, the ink is transferred to the roller, and these lines gradually become more noticeable.
▷This can sometimes be avoided by designing the paper so that solid black areas are not placed in the "center line of the paper (a 2-3 cm wide strip area through which the paper feed roller passes)."
▷We also offer a service where we thoroughly wipe the rollers after each print.
(Paid option / *Depending on the number of prints, we may not be able to accept your request.)
• Needle marks
This occurs when the "release claws" (needle-shaped parts) used to separate the paper from the drum in the paper output section come into contact with the still-wet ink surface immediately after printing. In particular, thin white streaks (white spots) that look like they were scratched with a needle may appear on lines with a lot of solid ink. This is one of the phenomena unique to the structure of a risograph.
- With borders & uneven margins
Due to its design, borderless printing (printing without bleed) is not possible. A margin of approximately 5mm (non-printable area) will always remain around the edges of the paper. Please also note that slight misalignments during paper feeding and cutting may result in margins that are not perfectly uniform on all sides.
▷If you want borderless printing (full-surface printing): You can print slightly larger on a standard-sized sheet of paper, and then trim 10mm from the top, bottom, left, and right edges to create a borderless finish (trimming fee applies).
・See-through
Because risograph ink slowly soaks into the paper fibers and sets, it has the characteristic of easily showing through to the other side of the paper. This show-through is especially noticeable with thin paper, solid colors, or dark inks. When creating double-sided pages for zines and the like, the choice of paper thickness and the layout balance on the back side are important points to consider.
- Color may fade or get on your hands if rubbed.
Risographs use semi-aqueous (emulsion) inks based on soybean oil or rice bran oil. Unlike oil-based inks that dry by evaporation, the ink does not completely fix (harden) to the paper. Even after allowing sufficient time for drying after printing, rubbing vigorously with fingers, clothing, or other paper may cause color fading or transfer. Please appreciate this as the natural, rustic texture of printed materials, similar to how your fingertips might get slightly blackened when turning the pages of a newspaper.
- Ink clogging
特にゴールドなどのメタリックインクや蛍光インクは、インクの粒子が版（マスター）の細孔を詰まらせやすい性質があります。そのため、これらのインクを刷った上に別の色を重ねて刷ろうとすると、後から刷るインクが綺麗に乗らなかったり、混色によって本来の発色が濁ってしまったりすることがあります。
• Printing in 3 or more colors & printing on both sides
Because only two colors can be printed per pass, multi-color printing (three or more colors) or double-sided printing requires passing the same paper through the machine multiple times. This increases the risk of misregistration and paper contamination.
▷When printing with a third or subsequent color, or printing on the back side, it is best to allow half a day to a full day for drying to minimize smudging.
▷When printing continuously without allowing drying time, roller marks and ink smudges are particularly likely to occur.
• Powder stains (paper dust)
Due to the characteristics of Sograph printers, which use semi-aqueous (emulsion) ink, rubbing the freshly printed ink surface vigorously may cause the color to rub off and stain the paper. Also, the ink does not completely fix (dry and harden) even after time has passed. Even after the print has dried completely, rubbing it vigorously with your fingers or other objects may cause color transfer.
We are currently experiencing a high volume of reservations.
If you have a preferred date, we recommend making your reservation as soon as possible.
What Risosta aims for is
A street corner printing shop where anyone can drop in on a whim.
SUT's vision for "Risosta" is a place where we can create together, starting from "zero." Before even considering risograph printing itself, we believe that fostering the "motivation" to create something is one of the key aspects. Whether you're a first-timer or a regular, we aim to create a community space where you can drop by anytime and give shape to the feelings within you.
Many of the zines and miscellaneous goods at SUT were born from casual conversations (communication) with people who just happened to drop by. I truly believe that it is only through a space like SUT that we can build new relationships by sharing the "feelings" (thoughts) of wanting to give shape to what is inside us.
A corner of a row house built in the Taisho era, over 100 years old.
Many of the people who visit SUT actually have an unconscious " feeling" or "intention" to create something, and I think that the small conversations (communication) that occur during customer service are often sparked by the " feelings " that these people express.
"ZINE and miscellaneous goods series" held in February and November.
Beginner's Course on Free Papers and Zines
There are several printing companies in Japan that specialize in risograph printing, ranging from pioneering workshops to charismatic publishers. In the magazines and zines they publish, you can feel the powerful passion for creation and communication firsthand. I believe this is because the publishers' personal feelings, their love for their families, friends, and communities, are strongly present.
At "Risosta," created by SUT, we envision using risograph printing to bring to life not only the zines submitted by people who drop by, but also our own efforts to create zines expressing our thoughts and feelings.
We acquired a Risograph MD5450 machine and opened "Pre-Risosta" in November 2024.
Why lithography?
Print it ourselves
Tokyo Ping Pong Co., Ltd., which operates SUT, is an editorial and design production company run by CEO Yamamoto and SUT store manager Shimizu.
I've been involved in the cycle of interviewing, shooting, editing, designing, and submitting for printing for decades, but when it comes to printing, although I might be present at the initial printing stage, I actually leave it to the skilled workers at the printing factory.
At Risosta, our motto is "a place created not just by us, but together with the people who gather here," so we believe it's important to be able to print things ourselves. In that respect, risograph is the only method we can implement, considering the space requirements, cost, and above all, the satisfaction we get from the finished product.
A one-of-a-kind color
SUT has been running the "ZINE and Goods" series since 2020. Actually, when the event started, we didn't have any knowledge of risograph printing, and we simply saw its attractive colors as just one of its unique characteristics. Similarly, more and more customers, without any knowledge of risograph printing, were drawn to the charm of the colors and picked up the items.
The secret behind the captivating colors of risograph printing is that it has existed for a very long time and is very familiar to us, used in elementary schools and government offices. At the same time, we learn that artists not only in Japan but all over the world are fascinated by the unique colors of risograph printing.
The fun of printing it yourself
It's been almost two years since we started going to risograph studios to get our work printed. We started by taking workshops, then helped with zine making, and now we're printing our own zines and artwork. We're still inexperienced, but we've learned so much through these experiences. While editing and design are prerequisites, overcoming the challenges of risograph-specific data creation and printing processes, and experiencing the entire process from start to finish, allows us to truly appreciate the joy of "thinking and creating for ourselves."
SUT's "Risosta" aims to be a place that can provide opportunities for people to experience the joy of creating.
It's not just about us creating it alone; it's about communicating with the people who gather and continuing to create together in a fun way.
There are no societal constraints there; it's simply a sharing of the process of creating things to convey one's own feelings.
I believe that risographs will play an important role in supporting us in this way.
Such an opportunity
And then there's the person who gives me the push.
Risograph
SUT〈Risosta〉
Crowdfunding Challenge
To celebrate the opening of our risograph printing studio , "Risosta," we are launching a crowdfunding campaign.
Starting December 1, 2025. More details will be announced soon.