Orihon was used by the Buddhist for their sutra books and developed between 704-1185 in the Heian period of Japan. The creation of the orihon binding was in direct correlation with the use of scrolls. By folding the scrolls in a zig-zag formation, like the folds of a modern accordion, then pasting them into a cover, the orihon binding was created. Buddhists used the accordion shape of the book to heal people. By moving the book continually from one hand to the other, the breeze created was purported to heal when positioned above the injured area.
Used in China more than Japan, during the Haian period, the sempuyo binding improved upon the orihon by adding a constrained back which bound the accordion style binding to a cover. This is similar to the bindings used by publishers in recent times, but the binding is only connected to the first and last pages of the book. A sempuyo-bound book is often called a "flutter book." If dropped, or of the wind catches the pages, the accordion style folding of the pages allows them to blow out of the covers but remain attached at the end pages.
This is a type of orihon book binding, but instead of separate pages, the nobiru gajo uses double-sized pages that are folded in half. Compared to the standard orihon binding, the pages are sturdier. With the added sturdiness of the pages in the accordion binding, they can be used for writing on both sides with fluid ink. The norbiru gajo binding also allows the book to lay open with two pages displayed, unlike the original orihon binding.
With the nori-ire gajo, the binding is an accordion style binding, but unlike the orihon, each page of the book is a separate piece of paper. Most often, because the nori-ire gajo consists of individual pieces of paper glued at the fore edge of each page, it is a popular idea to develop these books with different types of paper attached to the accordion binding.