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[[Image:Keyblock.jpg|right|thumb|350px|An ''[[ukiyo-e]]'' key block, carved to print just the outlines and other black sections of the design. Santa Barbara Museum of Art.]]
[[Image:Keyblock.jpg|right|thumb|350px|An ''[[ukiyo-e]]'' key block, carved to print just the outlines and other black sections of the design. Santa Barbara Museum of Art.]]
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[[File:Baren.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Woodblock carving tools, and ''baren'' (used for rubbing the image onto the paper). Santa Barbara Museum of Art.]]
Japan has, since the 18th century, continually been among the highest-publishing countries in the world. For lengthy periods of time, Japan published annually more individual titles<ref>That is, counting the number of different publications produced; the total number of physical copies printed and distributed is another matter, given that other countries, and other languages, have far more readers than Japan(ese).</ref> of books, magazines, and other bound materials than any other country on Earth.
Japan has, since the 18th century, continually been among the highest-publishing countries in the world. For lengthy periods of time, Japan published annually more individual titles<ref>That is, counting the number of different publications produced; the total number of physical copies printed and distributed is another matter, given that other countries, and other languages, have far more readers than Japan(ese).</ref> of books, magazines, and other bound materials than any other country on Earth.