Woodblock printing in Japan

Woodblock printing in Japan is like using a fancy stamp to make art. First, a design is drawn on paper. Then, a block of wood is carved to make a mirror image of the design. After that, ink is spread onto the carved wood block and paper is pressed onto the inked block. When the paper is lifted off, a beautiful, colorful print is left behind! This special way of printing was used a lot in ancient Japan to create art, books, and even maps. People loved making prints so much that it became a important part of Japanese culture!