Carving the set of woodblocks to make one of my woodblock prints takes a long time ... about three weeks for an average set. During that time, I sit alone at my carving bench every day, and for hour after hour, slice away tiny slivers of wood until the image appears. For somebody watching, this work looks very boring indeed.

Just the other day, when my two young daughters came home from school, one of their friends came with them, and this little girl stopped by my workroom to see what I was doing. She watched quietly for a few minutes while I worked, and then asked me, "Oji-chan, is this work interesting?" I assured her that indeed it was, and that I liked it very much. She sat silently again for another few minutes, and then asked, "Really?" I tried to convince her that it was, but I don't think she believed me, and a minute later she ran off to play with the other kids.

Of course, I can see what she couldn't. I can see in my mind's eye the finished print, fully carved and printed with beautiful colours. It is this vision that keeps me at the bench, working away during the long, sometimes endless hours of carving. The vision of the finished print ...

I hope that one day that little girl can enjoy this same feeling ... to have a vision of what can be ... and then to work and make that vision come true. And of course I hope that my own children will also learn this, through their own father's example ...

Interesting? Yes, little one, very interesting!