Surishi is the Japanese term for the ukiyo-e printer who applies ink and takes impressions.
The surishi brushed ink or pigment onto a carved block, positioned damp paper using the registration marks, and rubbed the back with a baren. A separate block was generally used for each major color, so the printer repeated the process many times to complete one sheet.
Printing was not merely mechanical. The surishi controlled moisture, pigment density, pressure, and the direction of rubbing. These choices affected gradients, transparency, and the sharpness of lines. Skilled printers could produce subtle bokashi shading, in which color gradually fades across a printed area.
Ukiyo-e’s workshop system included the artist, carver, publisher, and printer. The surishi therefore helped determine the final appearance, even though the designer’s name is usually the one remembered today.