Nihon Bungeisha to Release an Illustrated Fashion Encyclopedia on May 15, 2026

Nihon Bungeisha Co., Ltd., headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, announced that it will release a new book by Bunka Gakuen University professor Zeshu Takamura, titled Fashion Encyclopedia: Items, History, Styles, Terminology, and Design, All Explained Through Illustrations, on May 15, 2026, through bookstores and online retailers across Japan. The book is positioned as an unprecedented visual fashion encyclopedia for people who love style, those who want to work in fashion, and anyone involved in illustration, design, or creative work. The book is structured around three approaches: comics, dialogue-based explanations, and a visual encyclopedia format. It is designed so that even beginners can learn the mechanisms of fashion in depth. Starting from simple questions such as why trends emerge, how coordination differs from styling, and what separates polished looks from casual ones, the book examines fashion from multiple angles, including the structure of the apparel industry that creates trends and modes, as well as the relationship between luxury brands and real clothes. It also features academic perspectives, such as the idea that all fashion can be classified into four categories. Complex fashion history is systematized into four basic styles: conservative, rock, folklore, and casual, with character dialogues making the content approachable for beginners. The first key feature is that details that are difficult to understand through words alone are made clear through illustrations. The book covers essential fashion item categories such as tops, bottoms, and shoes, as well as garment parts including sleeves and collars, and textiles such as tweed, materials, and patterns, all through detailed illustrations. Shapes such as lapels and sleeves, which are often hard to explain verbally, are thoroughly diagrammed, making the book a practical reference for fashion students and creators. The second key feature is its explanation of styles from their roots to contemporary trends, together with historical context. The book introduces the evolution of fashion from prehistoric times to the present by style, explaining why each style emerged, what its key items are, and how it connects to historical, social, and cultural backgrounds. It also provides detailed coverage of the history of Japanese trends. For contemporary fashion, the book recreates items from representative brands in detail, including model names and product names. Rather than merely introducing clothing, it helps readers understand why certain clothes became fashionable. It also analyzes and covers the front line of 2020s fashion, including trends inspired by K-pop idol costumes and the latest genderless styles. The third key feature is a practical section on fashion design techniques for creators. Chapter 6 introduces hands-on methods for developing design ideas, including dividing garments into parts, deconstructing and reconstructing them, and drawing inspiration from motifs. It also explains up-to-date design methods using generative AI tools such as Photoshop, ChatGPT, and Midjourney, making it highly practical for people involved in creative work. The table of contents includes: Chapter 1, Learn About Fashion Items; Chapter 2, Learn About the Evolution of Fashion; Chapter 3, Learn About Fashion Revivals; Chapter 4, Learn About the Future of Fashion; Chapter 5, Learn About Fashion Details; and Chapter 6, Try Designing Fashion. The author, Zeshu Takamura, is a fashion illustrator and fashion style critic. He is a professor at Bunka Gakuen University, teaching in the Graduate School Advanced Fashion Design program and the Department of Fashion Creation in the Faculty of Fashion Science. The book brings together the knowledge and experience he has developed through many years of researching and teaching fashion. His publications include The Street Style, Fashion Style Chronicle, and Fashion Design Technique from Graphic-sha, as well as Fashion Life no Hajimekata from Iwanami Shoten. Book details: Fashion Encyclopedia: Items, History, Styles, Terminology, and Design, All Explained Through Illustrations, by Zeshu Takamura, priced at 3,080 yen including tax, A5 format, 276 pages, ISBN 978-4-537-22341-5, release date May 15, 2026. Official book page: https://www.nihonbungeisha.co.jp/book/b10152335.html . The book will be available through bookstores and online retailers across Japan, including Amazon at https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4537223413/ and Rakuten Books at https://books.rakuten.co.jp/rb/18564661/ . Nihon Bungeisha also highlighted related popular titles, including Kyukyoku no Brand 100+5 by Yoshimasa Hoshiba, Donna Fuku Demo Niau Hito ni Naru Kikonashi no Hosoku by Kazunori Morikawa, and Hajimete no Haute Couture Shishu, with production cooperation by Yukari Iwashita and supervision by apollon. Nihon Bungeisha was established in January 1959. Its president and representative director is Hibiki Takemura, and its headquarters are located at Palace Side Building 8F, 1-1-1 Hitotsubashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. The company has capital of 100 million yen and 79 employees as of April 1, 2026. Corporate website: https://www.nihonbungeisha.co.jp .