1.
square autograph board; decorative cardboard for writing
A stiff, square piece of decorative cardboard used for autographs, poems, calligraphy, or short messages. Commonly used in Japan to get celebrity signatures or to write farewell messages.
有名人に色紙にサインをもらった。
I got a celebrity's autograph on a shikishi board.
退職する先輩に色紙を書いた。
We wrote a farewell message on a shikishi board for our retiring senior colleague.
壁にはプロ野球選手のサイン入り色紙が何枚も飾られていた。
On the wall, many autographed shikishi boards signed by professional baseball players were displayed.
READING: This entry covers the reading しきし. The same kanji 色紙 (read いろがみ) means "colored paper" (such as origami paper) and is a different word.
USAGE: 色紙 is a standard-sized (about 24cm × 27cm) square board. It is used in two main contexts:
1. Getting autographs from celebrities, athletes, or authors
2. Writing group farewell messages for someone leaving a workplace or school
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 色紙にサインをもらう (to get an autograph on a shikishi board)
- 色紙に寄せ書きをする (to write a group message on a shikishi board)
- サイン入り色紙 (autographed shikishi board)
- 色紙を飾る (to display a shikishi board)
Shikishi boards signed by famous people are often displayed in restaurants, barbershops, and offices. The 寄せ書き (group farewell message) tradition is a staple of Japanese workplace culture.