Asa ni Namida (Morning Tears) is the fourth and newest design in my series Azuma Nishiki Bijin Awase (A Collection of Eastern Brocade Beauties), and is made in the same format as the previous prints of this set, with image size 38 x 27 cm on paper of 45 x 31cm (17 x 12 inches). I have decided to make something a little more psychological this time and many people have asked me why the girl is crying, and perhaps some suggestion may be found in her disarranged kimono and hairstyle and the cold feeling of 'morning-after' in the blue-silver mica background. In this print I decided to try a slightly unusual printing technique for the shibori (tie-dyed) pattern on the red kimono; the plain paper was first deeply embossed with the small circular pattern in white and then red was gently printed over the surface from a flat block, not penetrating into the depths of the embossing because of the minimal pressure, which gives quite a realistic feel to the dyed silk. In addition, I have added hand-applied 'teardrops' of nikawa (glue-size) in the mica to represent her fallen tears, which are unique to each piece and can only be clearly seen on handling the print."
