Posts
All the articles I've posted.
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Light Kanji (光): Meaning, the Shining Prince, and How to Write It
By K. Yama光 means light — a fire carried by a person, the hikari of moonlight and glory, and the name of Japan's Shining Prince. Its meaning and how to write it.
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Kimono (着物): What Japan's 'Thing to Wear' Really Means
By K. YamaKimono means, literally, 'a thing to wear' — a living garment with seasonal rules and one detail you must never get wrong. The real story, not the costume.
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Thunder Kanji (雷): Meaning, Raijin, and How to Write It
By K. Yama雷 means thunder: rain over a field, the drum-beating god Raijin, and a word that began as 'the cry of the gods.' Its meaning, readings, and writing.
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Wind Kanji (風): Wind, Style, and How to Write It
By K. Yama風 (kaze) means wind — and also style, manner, and atmosphere. The 'wind' of 風林火山: what it carries in Japanese, and how to write it with movement.
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Ikigai: What the Japanese Word Really Means (Not the Diagram)
By K. YamaIkigai is your reason to get up in the morning — but the famous four-circle diagram isn't Japanese. A look at what ikigai actually means in everyday Japan.
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The Eight Principles of Yong (永字八法), Explained
By K. YamaThe kanji 永 (eternity) contains all eight basic brushstrokes of Japanese calligraphy. A practitioner explains the Eight Principles of Yong and how to use them.
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The Five Styles of Japanese Calligraphy, Explained
By K. YamaKaisho, gyōsho, sōsho, reisho, tensho — the five classical styles of Japanese calligraphy explained, compared, and ranked for beginners by a practitioner.
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A Brief History of Japanese Calligraphy, in 1,500 Years
By K. YamaJapanese calligraphy has 1,500 years of continuous tradition. A Japanese calligrapher's guide to the people, periods, and turns that made shodō what it is today.
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How to Hold a Japanese Calligraphy Brush (7 Steps)
By K. YamaMost shodō goes wrong before the brush touches paper — because of how the brush is held. A Japanese calligrapher's step-by-step guide to the correct grip.
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Japanese Calligraphy: The Complete Beginner's Guide (2026)
By K. YamaA practitioner's complete introduction to Japanese calligraphy (shodō): its history, the five styles, the tools you need, and a realistic 30-day practice plan.
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