『岩波文庫』 and 『岩波新書』 Get New Sweatshirts in 10 Cover-Color and Arabesque Designs

New sweatshirts based on 『岩波文庫』 and 『岩波新書』, two book series from Iwanami Shoten, Publishers, went on sale at the online store pTa.shop on September 17, 2026 (Thursday). pTa.shop is an on-demand print T-shirt mall where publishers take part under their own brand names. The 10 new designs join the existing 『岩波文庫』 and 『岩波新書』 collection, and use the same patterns as the T-shirts already on sale.

Wearing the Colors of Your Bookshelf

『岩波文庫』 was launched in 1927, modeled on Germany's Reclam series, with the philosophy of carefully selecting classics from all times and places and offering them as nourishment for people's hearts. In the roughly 100 years since, it has published books across literature, philosophy, religion, natural science and social science, and its total now exceeds 6,000 titles. The colored bands on the spines have long been familiar to readers, known by names such as "blue band" and "red band." For many people, the colors lined up on the shelf may be easier to remember than the titles or authors.

『岩波新書』 was launched in November 1938 to deliver "contemporary education for modern people." Its look has changed with the times, passing from the Red Edition (1938–46) and Blue Edition (1949–77) to the Yellow Edition (1977–87) and the current New Red Edition (1988 onward). Which color comes to mind as the "color of 『岩波新書』" differs by generation, a feature of a series with such a long history.

The new sweatshirts turn three motifs into 10 styles: the covers of these two series, and the arabesque pattern that has decorated the covers of 『岩波文庫』. All styles share the same body, an 8.8 oz French terry made from 100% cotton. Its thickness sits between a long-sleeve T-shirt and a sweatshirt, which suits early spring and early autumn as well as air-conditioned rooms. The fibers loosen with each wash, and the color and character gradually become the wearer's own.

Product Lineup

『岩波文庫』 / Cover Color Sweatshirts (Blue Band, Green Band, Yellow Band, Red Band, White Band — 5 designs)

The colored band on the cover of 『岩波文庫』 is placed right on the chest. The design is simply one long band and two short ones, with no title or author name. Even so, those familiar with paperback shelves may find the feel of that very book coming to mind. The sweatshirts come in five band colors: blue, green, yellow, red and white, so you can choose the color you see most often on your own bookshelf.

『岩波新書』 / Cover Color Sweatshirts (Blue Edition, Red Edition, Yellow Edition — 3 designs)

One large frame with the wavy border that characterizes the cover of 『岩波新書』. It is printed in a single color with no text. From a distance it may look like an abstract painting, but readers who have kept up with the series will recognize the outline right away. The sweatshirts come in three colors: Red Edition, Blue Edition and Yellow Edition, so you can wear the color of the era in which you picked up the books.

『岩波文庫』 / Arabesque Sweatshirts (Navy, Brown — 2 designs)

The arabesque pattern that has framed the covers of 『岩波文庫』 is arranged large in the shape of a picture frame. Fine lines depicting grape leaves and fruit, with small birds peeking out between winding vines, are printed in two colors: navy and brown. With the center left wide open, the design looks quiet from a distance, but the density of the detail stands out the closer you get.