Kappazuri

Kappazuri is a stencil-based printing method that was sometimes used as a cheaper alternative to full woodblock printing or in combination with woodblock techniques. Colors are applied through openings cut in stiff paper or cardboard stencils, rather than from carved wood surfaces. The technique could produce bold, flat areas of color quickly and inexpensively.

In its simplest form, kappazuri was used for hand-coloring early prints (before nishiki-e full-color printing was developed), with stencils ensuring consistent color placement across multiple impressions. Later, it was sometimes combined with woodblock printing — the key block outlines printed from wood, with colors added via stencil.

The technique is distinct from the highly refined Ise-katagami stencil tradition used in textile dyeing, though both share the principle of applying color through cut openings. In the context of woodblock prints, kappazuri is generally considered a simpler technique than full woodblock color printing, though skilled practitioners could achieve surprisingly refined results. Some sosaku-hanga artists experimented with stencil techniques as part of their exploration of printmaking methods.