How & Why was it invented ?

Who invented the Risograph ? How and why was it invented ?

Mr. Hayama - Founder of Riso Corporation

Riso means *ideal* in japanese

In the West, risography has been adopted as a medium within the artist community, but the origins of its innovation was actually born out of post-war depression. In 1942 right after the second World War, the company RISO, led by Noboru Hayaman in Japan, invented a new emulsion ink. This ink differed from others because it offered high colour quality with lower environmental impact at lower costs than its' competitors. At this time, it was only manufactured in Japan and had high importation costs for American and European businesses, resulting in a closed market within its' country as a means to nourish its' own economy during the depression.

The ink became very popular from that point forward and expanded to the creation of the Risograph, an all-in-one machine that could burn images and make copies with the very same ink. In 1989 - 2002, the RISO company expanded it's sales networks on a global scale and currently carries supplies in over 180 countries in the world, truly becoming a global operation.

References:

The Vintage Japanese Copy Machine Enjoying an Artistic RenaissanceAtlas Obscura

Side Story｜RISOwww.riso.co.jp