"When I was in the art department of the University of Education, I didn't really like oil painting and drawing, and at that time, a new teacher specializing in printmaking was transferred from Tokyo.  

―Specifically, what did you get into in copperplate prints? 

"The first thing that appealed to me was that I could have my own original version and that I could share the same picture with everyone.  

―In your profile, it was written, "I resumed copperplate prints after 30 years, which I had stopped doing to get a job." Please tell us the reason for the resumption. 

"After retiring, I used to travel a lot, but I couldn't go there because of the corona disaster, so when I was cleaning my room, a set of printmaking tools came out of the closet, and I thought I'd try to start again."  

―It's fateful. 

"Yes, I was able to reunite with something unexpected during the corona disaster."  

 

"It's been a while since I started printmaking, so it's been late. When I went to a stationery store because the ink on the black pen I was drawing on was gone, I found a metallic pen. I had a black sketchbook at home and couldn't use it, so I tried drawing it first."  

―What are the differences other than color? 

"Copperplate prints are cut in 10 editions, so if you want to buy them, you will have one of those 10 prints.  

―Is there anything you keep in mind when drawing prints and pen drawings? 

"It's easy to understand my early works, but I put "Eye (= eye)" in the painting. At the beginning of the drawing, I didn't expect what would happen at all, and I finished it while thinking, "This is what it looks like" or "It's a little animal-like." Sometimes I decide on a motif and draw it."  

-Please tell us about your favorite work. 

"As for the prints, it is 'YU 1981', which is used as an icon for my profile. 'YU' has the meaning of 'play' for play, 'yu' for kindness, and 'friend' for friends, but most importantly, I want the viewer to enjoy it on their own."