Woodblock printing has depicted various images and words that have been a part of the Japanese psyche for over 1200 years. Specialists of this trade must have struggled, not only with printing, but also with what information they communicate, how this information is relayed, as well as maintaining an energy efficient workflow. This way of thought probably motivated the development of Japanese Woodblock Printing.
　During the past few decades we have seen drastic changes in communication mediums. A several years ago, I met Mr. Seki, who might be one of the last survivors of the traditional woodblock printers, at an department store event in Tokyo. He was living powerfully by creating his original modern print arts and promoting by himself. He looked a little bit like Tora-san, a huckster who is a role in a Japanese movie. His talk was so engaging that I ending up buying one of his a small original prints. It seems that clever craftsmen like him have paved the roads of woodblock printing history by creating it as it is known today.
　I planed the project to introduce woodblock printing technology by producing woodblock print works. The three print works on top page are the result of the project. Woodblocks were made by Mr. Sintaro Shimano, carved by Mr. Torao Isii, and printed by Mr. Kenji Seki. Special Washi papers are made by Mr. Ichibee Iwano, and great editor mr. Kozaburo Nishimaki helped us by giving many suggestions for this project.
　15 years later now, it is very easy to publish the reports on internet with texts and images. During this hot summer, I have been eager to take pictures of the brilliant unfaded color print works and the woodblocks with a lifespan over 100 years. Then one day, while uploading the files, I saw the gray curtain going down on my 5 years old notebook PC’s display. Considering of my short life, for the energy-efficient workflow, I must create the storage area for these woodblocks in my small Japanese house.