Japan Paper Sizes Explained: A4, B5, and Why Your Files Might Be Wrong

Every week we receive a print file from an overseas designer that's almost right — but with one Japan-specific spec missing. The result: re-export, re-proof, lost time. This guide is the cheat sheet we wish every overseas designer had before exporting.

A-series: same as international ISO

Good news: Japan uses ISO A-series. A4 is A4. A3 is A3. A2, A1, A0 — all identical to international standards. So if you're sending an A4 flyer and your file is A4 (210×297mm), you're fine here.

B-series: this is where it goes wrong

Japan uses JIS B-series, which is NOT the same as ISO B-series. Examples:

• JIS B4: 257×364mm — vs ISO B4: 250×353mm (11mm difference)
• JIS B5: 182×257mm — vs ISO B5: 176×250mm (7mm difference)
• JIS B3: 364×515mm — vs ISO B3: 353×500mm

Most design apps default to ISO B-series. If your client is a Japanese magazine, school, or municipality, they'll specify JIS B5 — and you need to manually set 182×257mm, not 176×250mm. Templates labeled 'B5' from international stock libraries are almost always ISO.

Business cards: 91×55mm (NOT 89×51mm)

Japan's business card standard is wider and slightly taller than US cards. International designers sending US-spec files end up with cards that don't fit Japanese cardholders or look subtly small in meishi exchanges. Set 91×55mm with 3mm bleed and 3mm safety margin from trim.

Resolution: 350dpi is the Japanese print standard

Most international print specs say 300dpi. Japanese printers — especially for fine commercial work — expect 350dpi at final size. If you export at 300dpi we can usually still print, but for premium business cards, lookbooks, and any work with fine type or skin tones, target 350dpi from the start.

Color: CMYK Japan Color 2001 Coated

The Japanese standard ICC profile for offset is Japan Color 2001 Coated. US files are typically SWOP, EU is FOGRA39 / FOGRA51. The differences are real:

• Japan Color 2001 has a slightly cooler-leaning yellow than SWOP — your warm tones shift greener.
• Black-heavy designs read denser than expected when printed against Japan Color 2001's tighter dot gain.
• Export your final PDF/X with Japan Color 2001 Coated as the destination profile, or send us your master and we'll convert and proof.

Bleed and trim marks: 3mm bleed, fine crop marks

Japanese print follows ISO bleed conventions — 3mm bleed is standard. But Japanese printers expect crop marks set in C=0/M=0/Y=0/K=100 — pure black, not registration black — to avoid registration ghosting. Most international PDF/X exports do this correctly, but check Adobe Print Production output if your job comes back with mark issues.

Common file submission tips

• Use PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4 for offset jobs.
• Embed all fonts (or outline them, if licensing allows).
• Convert all images to CMYK in Japan Color 2001 Coated before placing.
• Flatten transparency unless you're confident your printer's RIP handles live transparency.
• Include a small color-bar or registration patch for press operators.
• Name your file something searchable — e.g. acmecorp_meishi_2pp_91x55_220gsm_v3.pdf — Japanese print operators will love you.

Not sure if your file is set up correctly?

Send it to us before press. We'll do a free preflight check — paper size, color profile, bleed, resolution, font embedding, image links — and tell you exactly what to fix (or fix it ourselves with your sign-off). Most overseas designers find one or two issues per file — far cheaper to fix in the file than after a misprint.

Have a file you're not sure about? WhatsApp it to us with the spec you intend (paper, size, finish), and we'll come back with a preflight report and a quote at the same time.