Tsuruya Kokei (1946 - )

Kokei started making Kabuki prints in 1978. Before that year he had not been active as an artist. Like other Sosaku Hanga artists he draws, carves, and prints his own designs. He uses hô (silver magnolia wood, softer than cherry and more easily carved) and he takes about 40 days to complete an edition of 72 (all his editions are small), after which he destroys the blocks. He prints on smooth, semi-translucent ganpi paper, difficult to work with, but with striking results.
In 2000 he made the announcement he would never make woodblock prints again.