In Photos: Tokyo shop strives to preserve ukiyo-e woodblock print technology

Paste and color are being applied to a "hangi" woodblock made of wild cherry wood at Takahashi Kobo in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on June 10, 2020. (Mainichi/Emi Naito)

"Surishi" printer Noriyasu Soda is seen moving a "baren" rubbing pad to apply pressure to washi paper against a woodblock at Takahashi Kobo in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on June 10, 2020. The shades and gradations of colors are also expressed during the printing process, and marks are left on the back of washi paper where the woodblock carvings were impressed. (Mainichi/Emi Naito)

A reproduction of "Kabuki Actor Otani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei," an ukiyo-e work by painter Toshusai Sharaku, is seen during the first printing stage, with light black ink applied for the picture's outline, at Takahashi Kobo in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on June 10, 2020. (Mainichi/Emi Naito)

A reproduction of "Kabuki Actor Otani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei," an ukiyo-e work by painter Toshusai Sharaku, is seen during the second printing stage, with glossy black ink applied to washi paper, at Takahashi Kobo in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on June 10, 2020. (Mainichi/Emi Naito)

A reproduction of "Kabuki Actor Otani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei," an ukiyo-e work by painter Toshusai Sharaku, is seen following the third printing stage, during which vermillion was added to washi paper, at Takahashi Kobo in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on June 10, 2020. (Mainichi/Emi Naito)

A reproduction of "Kabuki Actor Otani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei," an ukiyo-e work by painter Toshusai Sharaku, is seen following the fourth printing stage, during which orange was added to washi paper, at Takahashi Kobo in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on June 10, 2020. (Mainichi/Emi Naito)

A reproduction of "Kabuki Actor Otani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei," an ukiyo-e work by painter Toshusai Sharaku, is seen following the fifth printing stage, during which brown was added to washi paper, at Takahashi Kobo in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on June 10, 2020. (Mainichi/Emi Naito)

A reproduction of "Kabuki Actor Otani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei," an ukiyo-e work by painter Toshusai Sharaku, is seen following the sixth printing stage, during which skin color and green were added to washi paper, at Takahashi Kobo in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on June 10, 2020. (Mainichi/Emi Naito)

A reproduction of "Kabuki Actor Otani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei," an ukiyo-e work by painter Toshusai Sharaku, is seen following the seventh printing stage, during which ink black was applied to the background of the picture, at Takahashi Kobo in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on June 10, 2020. (Mainichi/Emi Naito)

A reproduction of "Kabuki Actor Otani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei," an ukiyo-e work by painter Toshusai Sharaku, is seen complete with the "eshi" painter's name, at Takahashi Kobo in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on June 10, 2020. (Mainichi/Emi Naito)

Paint used for the reproduction of "Kabuki Actor Otani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei" is seen at Takahashi Kobo in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on June 10, 2020. The pigments are made from natural minerals and plants, and the paint does not dissolve in water. (Mainichi/Emi Naito)

Pigments used for the reproduction of "Kabuki Actor Otani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei" are seen at Takahashi Kobo in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on June 10, 2020. The pigments are made from natural minerals and plants, and the paint does not dissolve in water. (Mainichi/Emi Naito)

"Hangi" woodblocks used for the reproduction of "Kabuki Actor Otani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei" are seen at Takahashi Kobo in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on June 10, 2020. The carvings, also seen on the rear sides, are made so that the raised areas correspond with the areas where color is applied. (Mainichi/Emi Naito)

Mica mineral powder is sprinkled onto a reproduction of an ukiyo-e of "Kabuki Actor Otani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei" at Takahashi Kobo in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on June 10, 2020. The sparkling substance remains only on the background where paste was applied. (Mainichi/Emi Naito)

"Surishi" printer Noriyasu Soda is seen positioning paper, based on two "kento" indicators on the woodblock, at Takahashi Kobo in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on June 10, 2020. (Mainichi/Emi Naito)

Yukiko Takahashi, sixth-generation head of Edo woodblock print shop Takahashi Kobo, is seen in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on June 10, 2020. (Mainichi/Emi Naito)

A woodblock used in one of many stages of the printing process is seen at Takahashi Kobo in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on June 10, 2020. (Mainichi/Emi Naito)