Sharkskin

A small piece of sharkskin is an integral part of the traditional printer's toolkit. It is used as the final step in 'prepping' the brushes for use. When a brush is rubbed vigorously over the skin, the sharp teeth tear the tips of the hairs, leaving them feathered and much less likely to leave streaks in the pigment.

Large skins are extremely expensive, so what we are making available here are skins from a small type of shark known as a kasusame.

The skin is 'raw'; you yourself will have to soak it, then bond it to a piece of wood - with white glue and nails.

Sharkskin

Ategami

Strongly rubbing a baren over the back side of a wet piece of printing paper can sometimes cause it to abrade. This thin but very strong paper is designed to be used as a protective interleaving. Place it over the back of the printing paper before rubbing. The baren slides very smoothly across the surface ...

It is available as a long roll (300mm x 10m) from which you can cut the size you need.

'Ategami' Paper

Hakobi

Hakobi are the small bamboo brushes used to transfer the pigment from the bowl to the woodblock. Hakobi actually means 'carrying stick', but it is also called 'tokibo', which means 'mixing stick'.

Hakobi (left-bamboo / right-flax)

They are available here in two types, the first made in the traditional way from slivers of bamboo sheath, and the second, made from flax. They function in pretty much the same way ...

Baren tying clamps

These are small velcro straps devised by our Japanese supplier Matsumura-san, to help with tying the baren. If you only have two hands and ten fingers, you might find one of these useful!
He has a few small videos on his website that illustrate how they are used. See this page (in Japanese, but you can watch ...)

Baren tying clamps

They are available in three sizes: 'Large' is for barens of over 13cm diameter, 'Medium' is for typical barens, and 'Small' is for smaller student-grade barens.

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