Step Two ...

The key block. Unlike many ukiyo-e designs, this one demands that the key block lines be printed in bold strong black. The brush strokes sweep across the page, and indeed, this print could be considered finished right here - the steps that come next to add colours are really quite redundant.

But printing strong black requires both that plenty of sumi be applied to the block, and that good firm pressure be used to take the impression. That's normally not a problem, but in this case it makes it very difficult indeed to print the hair clearly. The hairs are very finely carved, and too much pressure will spoil them, and the places where hairs cross each other (all carved on the same block in this case) are easily clogged by pigment.