Kuchi-e
口絵
Frontispiece prints produced for novels and literary magazines, particularly during the Meiji period. These exquisitely printed bijin-ga served as illustrations but were often removed and collected separately.
Related Terms
Kabuki
歌舞伎
The popular theater form featuring elaborate costumes, dramatic makeup (kumadori), and stylized acting. Kabuki actors were celebrities of the Edo period, and prints of their performances (yakusha-e) were bestsellers, functioning as the equivalent of modern celebrity posters.
Kakemono-e
掛物絵
Large-format prints designed to hang as scroll-like decorations, measuring approximately 76 × 23 cm. These prestigious prints often featured standing beauties or actors in full costume.
Karazuri
空摺
Blind printing or embossing, where the dampened paper is pressed into carved blocks without ink to create raised or impressed textures. This technique beautifully rendered textures like snow, white fabric, feathers, and waves, visible only when the print is viewed at an angle.