I had been using white, industrial-textured photographic paper, so it was difficult for me to get used to the rich textures of paper for printmaking. When I was finally able to come to terms with Hahnemühle and other thick papers for printmaking, I began to recognize Japanese paper. It is handmade paper, known as Washi, and I dared to look at it from a position far removed from the products of my own country. It was very attractive, but I was afraid of getting trapped in too strong a Japanese view of the world. But that was misguided on my part. Many of my foreign friends, French and Americans, told me about the paper and how wonderful it was. So I decided to give it a try. It was a deeper, richer, and more enjoyable world than I had imagined!

There are many places in Japan where Washi is produced. These include Mino, Echizen, Tosa, and Awa. I use Awa-paper, which is a Washi from Tokushima Prefecture. There are numerous types out there, but I am currently using a paper called Kitakata. In particular, the thicker paper, called "select," has a soft texture, and its colors have a delightful atmosphere that somehow evokes an appetite in me. Its color reminds me of my childhood. It is a happy and delicious memory of eating Kinako mixed with rice cakes… *Kinako is a food ingredient made by drying soybeans and turning them into fine powder.