In late 2000 I purchased a 4-story building in Ome in Tokyo that seems to be perfect for my living/working needs. A small river runs along the rear side of the property, and provides the inspiration for the name of this new 'Seseragi Studio'. Seseragi has no single-word translation in English, but describes the sound made by shallow water rippling across stones. Down at the lowest level of the building, there is a small room that looks out over the river, and it is there that I am building my new workroom. It is far from complete, but I am already using it for printmaking work. Sometimes, when I am taking a lunch break, etc., I turn the camera around and show the view outside ... I hope you enjoy this small 'window' into the working environment of one woodblock printmaker!

 

Woodblock Webcam schedule ... 'Prime' time ... 'Not so prime' time ... Japan time: 8:30 am ~ 11:00 am 8:00 pm ~ 10:00 pm GMT: 11:30 pm ~ 2:00 am 11:00 am ~ 1:00 pm East coast US (EST*): 6:30 pm ~ 9:00 pm 6:00 am ~ 8:00 am West coast US (PST*): 3:30 pm ~ 6:00 pm 3:00 am ~ 5:00 am (* - Standard Times. During the summer Daylight Saving period, add one hour to the times listed here...) Please note: I am a woodblock printmaker, not a broadcaster; the schedule listed here simply outlines some hours in the day when I am most likely to have the camera turned on; it may also be on at other times. On the other hand, if the sun is shining, and the mountain trails near my home are dry ... Thank you for your understanding! If the Webcam is off at the moment, you can see some sample images from previous 'broadcasts' on a page here.

The Woodblock Webcam can be viewed in these versions: the main webcam - on a page together with a Message Board for viewers to leave comments and questions. a 'mini' webcam - in a miniature browser window that you can keep in one corner of the screen while you continue browsing. Note: I have heard from viewers that when they make repeat visits to the Webcam, their browser sometimes first shows them the last image from the previous session. This may be the 'camera is off' message, so if you first see this - wait until the image is refreshed (usually only a few seconds), before assuming that the camera is indeed turned off ...

Comments or questions about what you see? Suggestions to make this more useful? Drop me a line with your feedback, or use the Message Board on the main webcam page. I have prepared a Q&A page, where you can read answers to questions sent previously ... Like to enter the "Where's Boots?" contest? Read up about it here ...

Future plans for the Woodblock Webcam: Real-time full-motion video. This will have to wait until the communications companies get their fibre-optic cables out to my area ... Viewer-controlled zoom and pan. This is possible now; there are webcam systems that let viewers control where they look and how close to zoom. Maybe one of these years I'll be able to afford one ... Multiple cameras. I would like to add a permanent camera aimed at the river view outside my window ...