mikaeshi 見返

1　A surface of a Japanese architectural component that faces front.

2　Endpaper, often decorated, used to line inside the front cover of a Japanese style booklet *sasshibon 冊子本 or the opening section of a scroll *kansubon 巻子本. Mikaeshi usually is paper, although fabric has been used on occasion. For example, figured satin rinzu 綸子, was used for mikaeshi of a magnificently decorated scroll set, Sanjūrokuninshū 三十六人集 (The Collection of Thirty-six Master Poets) in Nishihonganji 西本願寺 (early 12th century), Kyoto. Mikaeshi can be embellished with a painting mikaeshi-e 見返絵 or decorated in a variety of techniques for paper decoration *ryōshi sōshoku 料紙装飾 including the ample use of gold or silver foil, for example in the decoration of Buddhist sutras sōshokukyō 装飾経 of the 12th century.