Posts
All the articles I've posted.
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Washi (和紙) for Calligraphy: How Paper Shapes Every Stroke
By K. YamaUpdated:Why calligraphers fuss over paper: kōzo, mitsumata and gampi, ink bleed and dry-brush, hanshi vs gasenshi, and which side of the sheet to write on.
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Your Name in Kanji: How a Japanese Calligrapher Chooses the Characters
By K. YamaWant your name in kanji? A Japanese calligrapher explains ateji honestly: how characters are chosen by sound or meaning, what to avoid, and when kanji is not the answer.
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What Is Sumi Ink? Stick vs Bottle: A Beginner's Guide (2026)
By K. YamaUpdated:Sumi ink covers everything from $4 bottles to $400 inksticks under one name. A practitioner's guide to what sumi actually is and what beginners should buy.
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The Complete Guide to Kanji Tattoos: Get One Right (2026)
By K. YamaUpdated:Most kanji tattoos are subtly wrong in ways their owners never learn. A Japanese calligrapher's complete guide to choosing, writing, and getting a kanji tattoo right.
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How to Write Your Name in Japanese (Katakana Guide)
By K. YamaUpdated:Your name in Japanese is written in katakana by sound, not kanji by meaning. How the conversion really works, and the mistakes that trip everyone up.
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Best Sumi-e Starter Kit for Beginners (2026): Build Your Own From $46
By K. YamaUpdated:There is no good all-in-one sumi-e kit on Amazon, so build one. A Japanese calligrapher on the brushes, ink, palette, paper and book a beginner in Japanese ink painting actually needs.
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Best Online Japanese Calligraphy Courses (2026)
By K. YamaUpdated:Want to learn shodō online but don't know where to start? A Japanese calligrapher reviews the best online Japanese calligraphy courses for beginners in 2026.
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Best Sumi Ink for Beginners (2026): 3 Bottles Compared
By K. YamaUpdated:A Japanese calligrapher compares the three bottled sumi inks beginners meet most often — what each is like to use, and which to start with.
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Best Japanese Calligraphy Wall Art: How to Buy It Right (2026)
By K. YamaUpdated:Most 'Japanese calligraphy' wall art is a computer font, sometimes with the wrong kanji. A calligrapher's guide to buying real, meaningful pieces for your wall.
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Best Sumi Ink Sticks for Beginners (2026): From $9 to Kobaien
By K. YamaUpdated:Grinding your own ink is the moment shodō stops being a hobby and becomes a practice. A Japanese calligrapher on the four ink sticks worth buying, from a $9 starter to Kobaien.
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