gyotaku by ken okutake | about gyotaku

Gyotaku is believed to have originated during the 1800’s by Japanese fishermen as a way to preserve the memory of a prize catch.

There are two basic methods of gyotaku, the indirect (kansetsu-ho) and direct (chokusetsu-ho). Indirect printing is done by covering the fish with paper or silk, which is then painted with water-based pigments using a silk-covered cotton ball called a "tampo" .

Direct printing, the method I use, is done by applying black sumi ink directly to the fish. Shoji paper is then pressed against the inked surface to get an exact mirror image. After the initial impression is made, I use watercolors to add life to the printed fish.

The direct method not only preserves the fine details of the fish, it also allows me to print the fish and get it back on ice quickly so it can still be eaten after the printing is finished.

All the fish I print are taken by my friends or me and always eaten, never wasted. If commission work is done, I will typically clean the fish and vacuum pack it for the customer so they can enjoy their special catch on the dinner table as well.

hanko

	Chris with a white seabass from Santa Cruz Island on July 16, 2005. He kept the fish on ice and made sure it was not damaged in transit. I also recommend wrapping the fish in plastic wrap (or trash bags for larger fish) to avoid damaging the fins and scales. Freezing the fish is OK, as long as it is tightly wrapped and protected from the drying effects of a freezer.
	This was the initial print of Chris' fish. Soon after this print was taken, I fileted it, vacuum packed it and put it in the fridge so Chris could still have seabass for dinner. Painting the fish with watercolor is the next step and can be done anytime since the time-critical step of printing the fish is over.
	This is the finished gyotaku. I use my memory from many dives and underwater photos to bring life to the black and white ink print. The final step is the signing/dating and stamping with my family name in Kanji. The stamp,called a "hanko", was hand-carved from cherry wood in Kyoto, Japan.

	gallery	about gyotaku	news	contact