Libraries and bookstores were packed with hand-printed material of various types – books on women, musical instruments, calculations, tea ceremonies, flower arrangements, proper etiquette, cooking, and famous places.

Visual printing has led to interesting publishing practices. In the late 18th century, in the thriving urban circles of Edo (later known as Tokyo), the collection of paintings represents an elegant urban culture that includes a gathering of artists, prostitutes, and teahouses. Libraries and bookstores were packed with various types of handwritten material, including books about women, musical instruments, calculations, tea ceremonies, flower arrangements, proper etiquette, cooking, and famous places.