The Japanese name for the hand tool used to rub paper against an inked ukiyo-e woodblock is baren.
A baren is a flat, round pad with a handle or corded back. After the printer places dampened paper on an inked block, the baren is rubbed or pressed across the reverse side. This transfers the pigment into the paper fibers without requiring a press. The tool gave Japanese woodblock printing its characteristic hand-controlled pressure and made repeated impressions practical in a workshop.
Traditional baren were made from materials such as a bamboo sheath wrapped around a core. Modern versions can use synthetic materials, but the basic purpose remains the same. The printer can vary pressure to influence how strongly an area prints, although paper, pigment, carving, and moisture also affect the result.
The baren is often confused with kentō. Kentō are carved registration guides that position the paper; the baren is the rubbing tool that makes the impression. A complete ukiyo-e workshop also involved a designer, carver, printer, and publisher, each with a distinct role.