Almost a year ago, back in July 2017, it was revealed that CLAMP would collaborate with Saikoku Sanjusansho pilgrimage circuit to create a Goshuinchō book designed by CLAMP.

After several delays and postponements, the book finally has a release date and designs revealed.

There will be two versions:

Design A:

Design B:

With these, one can do the pilgrimage and collect the stamps from each shrine.

Each version will be sold for 2,300 yens starting on June 30 and will be available for purchase in all of the Saikoku Sanjusansho pilgrimage circuit shrines. The shrines are located in Nara, Kyoto, Shiga and Gifu. For a complete list of shrines, please check here. There is no way to buy them online, only at the participating shrines.

Copies shall be extremely limited. Each shrine will sold only 70 copies for each design; two shrines will sold 100 copies for each design. There won’t be a re-stock after the copies sold out.

Source: CLAMP-NET.COM, Saikoku33-1300 Years.

I am glad this is really happening, I was afraid it had been dropped since it’s been nearly one year since the announcement. It looks as gorgeous as I had expected. I prefer Design A, but Design B is cute as well with all the Chinese Zodiac animals.

I am surprised with the limited production, but I guess it makes sense? If my calculations are correct, there will be only 1940 copies for sale, which means that it’ll become a rare item afterwards, which means I want.

Sample page of a Goshuinchō book

It’s been announced that a Goshuinchō book designed by CLAMP will be released in October.

From Wikipedia:

A shuin (朱印) is a seal stamp given to worshippers and visitors to Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan. The seal stamps are often collected in books called shuinchō (朱印帳) that are sold at shrines and temples.

More info: Shuin.

The first time CLAMP spoke about their desire of designing their own Goshuinchō book was during the 14th episode of their former radio show, CLAMP no Kyoto Agaru Sagaru.

Quoting Jougetsu:

Most temples sell their own (go-)shuin books for worshipers to buy. They are covered in cloth and are bound accordion style so that you can open the book and display the temple stamp & calligraphy on the family shrine/altar shelf. In recent years fashion designers and artists have designed their own (go-)shuin book covers and those can be found at various shops (bookstores/stationery stores/lifestyle goods shops).

Source: Saikoku33-1300 Years.

This looks interesting! I have a feeling this is going to be one gorgeous book with traditional Japanese-style design.

More info as they come!