Chuban

Chuban is a medium-sized format that was popular for certain categories of prints, including surimono (privately commissioned prints) and book illustrations. At approximately 26 x 19 centimeters, it is roughly half the area of an oban sheet, making it economical for both production and distribution.

The smaller format was favored for intimate subjects that did not require the visual scale of oban — portraits, still life compositions, and small landscape studies. In the shin-hanga era, some publishers used chuban for more affordable prints or for experimental designs. The format was also common for prints intended for albums or portfolios rather than individual display.

Despite its smaller size, chuban prints could achieve the same level of technical sophistication as their larger counterparts. The reduced surface area actually made certain techniques easier — bokashi gradations, for example, required less sweep area. Some collectors specifically seek chuban-format prints for their intimate scale and the different aesthetic experience they offer compared to standard oban prints.