Today I'd like to talk a little about the paper I use. Last year, especially towards the end of the year, I experimented with various types of washi paper to express my own works. I used not only the well-known Awagami paper, but also various Echizen-Washi papers. To be honest, I had deliberately avoided using washi paper until now. This was because I lacked the confidence to incorporate the unique texture of washi paper into my own work. However, inspired by the works of many overseas artists, I finally gave washi paper a try. From the very beginning, I was constantly amazed and impressed. Until now, I have mainly used so-called European papers, such as Hahnemühle and Veran Archet printmaking papers. Of course, I am still an inexperienced printer, so I can only speak from my own experience. What amazed me most about Washi was the durability of its fibers, followed by the diversity of its texture. It is a historic paper made by processing the fibers of various plants, such as Kouzo, Mitsumata, and Gampi, depending on its composition. The paper that has impressed me the most so far is Kitakata (SH-16) manufactured by Awagami. It is a very thin paper, but its subtle sheen brings out the perspective of the world of printmaking. After that, I got hold of a lot of discontinued paper called Katagami-Genshi from Awagami and started printing. It is a simpler and easier to handle paper than Kitakata, and I used it for several of my works. Washi continues to teach me a lot. However, while I rediscover the appeal of Washi, I sometimes feel a sense of discomfort that my work does not match the "attractive force" of Washi. This is due to the fibrous texture of the surface and its unique texture. To put it in a metaphor, it has the atmosphere of a famous piece of music played on a folk instrument. It's my favorite kind of music, but I've been wondering for a while now whether it's suitable for my work. I also keenly felt that many of the Washi papers absorb a lot of ink, meaning it is difficult to achieve the highest density of black. Of course, this is also influenced by my own still-low skill level. In this respect, European paper makes it easier to produce stable works. I also wanted the paper to have a gentle presence as a material that would highlight my work.