Want to make your own fish prints? Here’s how! Gyotaku is a traditional Japanese art form that began over 100 years ago as a way for fishermen to keep track of the trophy fish that were caught on voyages. “Gyo” means “fish” and “Taku” means “impression.” This traditional method required fishermen to apply non-toxic sumi ink to one side of the fish, cover the fish with rice paper, and rub the paper until the image of the fish was on the paper.