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By onemall 
Last updated: 2026-10-26.
TL;DR
Japanese calligraphy (shodō, 書道) needs the “four treasures”: a brush (fude), ink (sumi stick or bokuju liquid ink), an inkstone (suzuri) and paper (hanshi), plus a paperweight and a felt mat. Most Japanese calligraphy brushes come from Kumano in Hiroshima, and Nara makes the large majority of Japan’s ink sticks — Kobaien, Boku-undo and Kuretake are the names to know. A beginner calligraphy set from Kuretake costs about ¥4,400 including tax.
- Beginner: a school-style set with liquid ink, a resin inkstone and two brushes.
- Brush sizes: thick brush 3–4 (号), thin brush 7–8.
- Paper: hanshi, about 24 × 33 cm.
- No time to grind? Use bokuju liquid ink or a brush pen.
As of October 2026, this guide covers the Japanese calligraphy tools and their names, the main brush, ink, inkstone and paper traditions, a calligraphy paper size chart, the best Japanese calligraphy set for beginners, brush pens, how to use and clean a calligraphy brush and inkstone, prices, and how to buy Japanese calligraphy supplies from Japan.
Japanese Calligraphy Supplies: the Basic Set
These are the Japanese calligraphy equipment and materials (Japanese writing utensils) in a shodo kit:
| Tool | In English | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Fude (筆) | Brush | A thick brush for main characters and a thin brush for signing your name |
| Sumi (墨) | Ink stick | Solid ink of soot and nikawa animal glue, ground with water on the inkstone |
| Bokuju (墨汁) | Liquid ink | Ready-to-use ink; most school and beginner sets use it |
| Suzuri (硯) | Inkstone | Stone or resin; a flat grinding area and an ink pool |
| Kami (紙) | Paper | Hanshi practice paper, larger gasenshi and kakizome sheets |
| Bunchin (文鎮) | Paperweight | Holds the paper flat; often a two-piece bar |
| Shitajiki (下敷き) | Felt mat | Goes under the paper so ink does not bleed onto the table |
| Suiteki / mizusashi (水滴 / 水差し) | Water dropper | Adds a few drops of water for grinding |
The four treasures (文房四宝) are the brush, ink, inkstone and paper; Kuretake even sells a “文房五寶” box that adds a glass pen as a fifth.[1] A typical Japanese school calligraphy set — Kuretake’s GA-451S, for example — holds a solid ink stick, a 180 ml bottle of liquid ink, thick and thin brushes, a resin inkstone, a two-piece paperweight, a double-sided non-slip mat, a water dropper, a brush roll, a hanshi folder, a small dish and a bag.[2] Japanese children learn brush calligraphy at school: from 3rd grade, about 30 class hours a year under the national curriculum.[3]
Japanese Calligraphy Brushes (Fude)
A Japanese calligraphy brush is called a fude (筆). The four nationally designated brush traditions:
| Brush | Where | Designated | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kumano-fude (熊野筆) | Kumano, Hiroshima | 1975 | Japan’s No. 1 producer of calligraphy, painting and makeup brushes |
| Toyohashi-fude (豊橋筆) | Toyohashi, Aichi | 1976 | Made since 1804; known for the water-mixing step 練りまぜ |
| Nara-fude (奈良筆) | Nara | 1977 | Traced by tradition to Kūkai bringing Tang brush-making to Japan |
| Kawajiri-fude (川尻筆) | Kure, Hiroshima | 2004 | One craftsperson makes each brush from start to finish |
Kumano-fude became Hiroshima’s first national traditional craft in 1975, and Kumano — home to many brush manufacturers — is Japan’s No. 1 producer of calligraphy, painting and makeup brushes;[4] brush-making there began in the late Edo period and about 2,000 people work in the industry (2022).[5] Toyohashi-fude was designated in 1976,[6] Nara-fude in 1977[7] and Kawajiri-fude in 2004.[8] Kumano’s makeup brushes are a separate world — see our Japanese makeup brands guide for fude face brushes.
Brush hair and sizes
The Kumano-fude standard allows goat, horse, deer, raccoon dog, weasel or cat hair.[9] Kuretake’s school brushes mix 羊毛 (soft goat or sheep hair), horse, weasel and synthetic fibres, and it recommends a size 3 (3号) thick brush for lower and middle elementary grades, size 4 for upper grades, and size 7 or 8 thin brushes.[10] Soft hair holds more ink and gives a fuller line; stiffer horse and weasel hair snaps back for sharper strokes. Large, extra-large and giant brushes are used for big characters and performance calligraphy; brush techniques start with pressure and speed control; handmade, expensive brushes from individual craftsmen cost far more than set brushes.
Parts of a brush: the head (穂, ho), its fine tip (命毛, inochige) and the bamboo handle (軸, jiku). Japanese bamboo brushes are the norm; a round brush is the standard shape. Store brushes in a brush case, brush roll, brush holder, brush stand or brush pot, and rest a wet brush on a brush rest (筆置き, fudeoki). Calligraphy brushes are also used for watercolor and sumi-e; Kuretake also makes Gansai Tambi watercolours, and a Japanese watercolor brush set is often Kumano-made.
How to hold and clean a Japanese calligraphy brush
Hold the brush upright, between the thumb and the first two fingers, with the wrist off the paper for large characters. After writing, rinse the brush in water. If dried ink has hardened the hairs, work them loose gently with bar soap on your hands — brush hair is sensitive to alkali.[11] Reshape the tip and hang or lay the brush flat to dry; a brush roll and brush rest keep it straight. The same applies when you wash fude brushes of any kind.
Sumi Ink: Ink Sticks and Liquid Ink
Sumi (墨) is solid ink made of soot and nikawa (animal glue), with scent added.[12] There are two soot types: lampblack ink (油煙墨, from rapeseed, sesame or paulownia oil) and pine-soot ink (松煙墨).[13] Nara is the centre: the Nara ink makers’ association says Nara ink supplies 95% of Japan’s demand, with ten member makers producing about 700,000 sticks a year,[14] and Nara-zumi became a national traditional craft in 2018.[15] Ink is made only from mid-October to the end of April, when the glue sets well.[16] Suzuka-zumi (Mie), made from plant-oil soot, was designated in 1980.[17]
Sumi ink origin: ink sticks came to Japan from China; Nara’s ink tradition is linked by legend to Kūkai. Sumi ink painting techniques in sumi-e use the same ink in diluted tones for original art; a school set is the usual sumi ink kit for kids.
Japanese ink brands
| Maker | Where / since | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Kobaien (古梅園) | Nara; 1577 | Ink sticks (sumi) made for more than 440 years |
| Boku-undo (墨運堂) | Nara; 1805 | Ink sticks and liquid ink |
| Kuretake (呉竹) | Nara; 1902 (as Watatani Shokai) | Ink sticks, Bokuteki liquid ink (1958), brush pens (1973), school calligraphy sets |
| Pentel (ぺんてる) | Tokyo | Pentel Fude pocket brush pen |
Kobaien was founded in 1577;[18] Boku-undo in 1805;[19] Kuretake in 1902 as the Nara ink maker Watatani Shokai — it launched Bokuteki liquid ink in 1958 and the Kuretake brush pen in 1973.[20] “Bokuju” (墨汁) is the generic word for liquid calligraphy ink, while “Bokuteki” (墨滴) is Kuretake’s trademark.[21]
Sumi ink ingredients: the basic sumi ink recipe is soot, nikawa animal glue and scent, so traditional sumi is not vegan, and the faint smell of an ink stick is the added scent. Because the colour comes from carbon soot, sumi ink is lightfast. The usual colour is black (sumi ink colors are mostly shades of black); teachers correct work in vermilion ink (朱墨, shuboku), and ink sticks with bluish or brownish tones exist. A sumi ink stick is also called an ink block or ink cake. US art brands such as Yasutomo also sell sumi ink and suzuri stone sets.
Ink stick vs liquid ink
Grinding an ink stick on the inkstone with a little water gives control over the tone and is part of the practice; liquid ink is faster and what most beginners and classrooms use. Kuretake’s calligraphy Bokuteki liquid ink is water-based (its 墨拓 rubbing ink is oil-based).[22] Sumi ink is also used with dip pens, for sumi-e ink wash painting (landscapes and other ink art in the Japanese art tradition, often mixed with watercolor) and for gyotaku fish printing (a fish print in sumi ink); sumi ink is good for dip pens too; keep calligraphy ink out of fountain pens, which need fountain-pen ink. A sumi ink marker is simply a brush pen, and bokuju is the usual substitute or alternative for grinding an ink stick.
Inkstones (Suzuri)
| Inkstone | Where | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogatsu suzuri (雄勝硯) | Ishinomaki, Miyagi | National traditional craft, 1985 | Black slate (玄昌石); made since about 1396; the same stone roofs Tokyo Station |
| Akama suzuri (赤間硯) | Yamaguchi | National traditional craft, 1976 | Reddish-brown stone; one reportedly offered to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu in 1191 |
| Amehata suzuri (雨畑硯) | Yamanashi | Prefectural craft, 1994 | Amehata slate; dates from 1690 |
Ogatsu suzuri was designated on May 22, 1985;[23] Akama suzuri in 1976;[24] Amehata suzuri is a Yamanashi prefectural craft (1994).[25] Natural-stone inkstones are more fragile; resin ones are lighter, tougher and easier for children to carry.[26] How to use an inkstone: drip a little water on the flat part, grind the stick in slow circles until the ink thickens, push it into the pool, and repeat. After use, rinse it gently without scratching the surface, dry it well and store it.[26]
Suzuribako: a suzuri bako box (硯箱) is a lacquered box that holds the inkstone, brush, ink stick and water dropper — see our Japanese lacquerware guide. A small ink pot or inkwell holds liquid ink for practice.
Japanese Calligraphy Styles
- Kaisho (楷書): block style, each stroke separate — where beginners and school kids start.
- Gyōsho (行書): semi-cursive.
- Sōsho (草書): cursive, highly abbreviated.
- Tensho and reisho (篆書 / 隷書): ancient seal and clerical scripts, used on seals.
- Kana calligraphy (かな書道): flowing hiragana and katakana, the classic Japanese style for poetry.
Japanese writing runs vertically, up and down in columns from right to left, which is why calligraphy is written vertically (vertical Japanese calligraphy). The basic rules are stroke order, balance and a single confident stroke. Calligraphy schools and associations grade students by kyu and dan ranks (levels), much like martial arts, and practice books (お手本, otehon) give the models to copy. The kanji for shodo is 書道 (“the way of writing”; pronunciation SHOH-doh); Zen calligraphy, such as the ensō circle, is a related brush art.
Japanese Calligraphy Paper Sizes
| Paper | Size (mm) | Inches | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanshi (半紙) | about 242 × 334 mm | about 9.5 × 13.1 in | Standard practice paper |
| Yatsugiri (八ツ切判) | about 175 × 680 mm | about 6.9 × 26.8 in | Kakizome for younger children |
| Sanmaiban (三枚判) | about 242 × 1,000 mm | about 9.5 × 39.4 in | Kakizome (three hanshi wide) |
| Hansetsu (半切) | about 348 × 1,350 mm | about 13.7 × 53.1 in | Hanging scrolls, exhibitions, kakizome |
Sizes follow Kuretake and vary slightly by maker.[27][28] Hanshi is thin washi or machine-made “rice paper”; write on the smoother side. Larger gasenshi (画仙紙) is the paper for exhibitions — Tottori’s Inshu washi has one of Japan’s largest outputs of handmade gasenshi,[29] and Echizen washi (Fukui) was designated in 1976.[30] For everyday paper sizes such as A4 and B5, see our Japanese paper sizes guide.
Kakizome: New Year Calligraphy
Kakizome (書き初め) is the first calligraphy of the year, written on January 2 — people write their goals or lucky phrases.[27] Schools set kakizome homework over the winter break on long yatsugiri or sanmaiban sheets, which is why long paper and kakizome brushes sell out in December.
Japanese Brush Pens
A brush pen (筆ペン, fude pen) gives a calligraphy line without ink or inkstone — useful for New Year cards, envelopes and practice.
- Kuretake Fudegokochi (筆ごこち): a brush-style felt tip in regular (LS1-10S), quick-dry (QDLS1-10S), extra-fine (QDLS4-10S) and light-black condolence (LS5-10S) versions, with water-based pigment or dye ink.[31]
- Pentel Fude pocket brush (XGFKP-A): a real-hair-style brush tip with water-based pigment ink, 136 mm long, ¥1,045 including tax on Pentel’s Japanese site.[32]
Other Japanese brush pens and brush markers to search for are the Pentel Fude Touch Sign Pen, Zebra Fude Sign pens, Pilot Fude Makase, Sailor Fude Nagomi, Kuretake ZIG and Bimoji brush pens and Akashiya brush pens; hard tip brush pens act like a felt-tip pen, soft ones like a real brush. Some are refillable — look for カートリッジ (cartridge) on the listing and buy refills of the same series. A fude nib (fude de mannen, 筆de万年筆) is a different thing: a bent fountain-pen nib.
Mitsubishi Pencil, Tombow and Zebra also make brush pens — compare them in our Japanese stationery brands guide.
Starter Sets for Kids and Adults
The Japanese calligraphy set for beginners — or a starter set for kids — is the school set described above; a mini calligraphy set fits a desk, and a gift set adds a box, stone inkstone and ink stick. High quality brushes and ink cost more but are not needed to start. Japanese art supplies brands worth knowing include Kuretake, Pentel, Sakura Color Products, Tombow, Holbein and Akashiya; for Japanese art supplies and stationery for kids, school calligraphy sets and brush pens are the easy start.
Japanese Calligraphy Set Prices
Kuretake’s online shop lists prices before tax (定価) next to the tax-included price.[33] Examples checked 2026-10-26:
- Calligraphy supplies set GM1-26: ¥4,000 (¥4,400 with tax).[34]
- Bokuteki liquid ink, 180 ml (BA4-18): ¥380; 1.8 L (BA4-180) ¥2,550.[35]
- Ink sticks: Koran (AB3-10) ¥650; Shodō-yō Kuretake (AA5-30) ¥1,800; Tenkin Kuretake (AA10-10) ¥3,000.[36]
Hand-made brushes, old ink sticks and natural-stone inkstones run from a few thousand yen to tens of thousands; antique and vintage sets turn up on Yahoo Auctions and Mercari.
The Artist’s Seal (Rakkan)
A finished calligraphy work is signed with the writer’s name and a red artist’s seal (落款印, rakkan-in) pressed in shuniku paste. It is a different object from the everyday name stamp — see our Japanese hanko guide for those.
Japanese Words for Shopping
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 書道 | shodō | calligraphy |
| 習字 | shūji | penmanship / school calligraphy |
| 書き初め | kakizome | first writing of the New Year |
| 筆 | fude | brush |
| 太筆 / 細筆 | futofude / hosofude | thick / thin brush |
| 墨 | sumi | ink stick |
| 墨汁 / 墨液 | bokuju / bokueki | liquid ink |
| 硯 | suzuri | inkstone |
| 半紙 | hanshi | practice paper |
| 画仙紙 | gasenshi | larger calligraphy paper |
| 文鎮 | bunchin | paperweight |
| 下敷き | shitajiki | felt mat |
| 書道セット | shodō setto | calligraphy set |
| 筆ペン | fude pen | brush pen |
| 落款印 | rakkan-in | artist’s seal |
How to Buy Japanese Calligraphy Supplies From Japan
- Search in Japanese: 書道セット, 書道 筆 太筆, 熊野筆 書道, 固形墨 奈良墨, 墨汁 墨滴, 硯 雄勝, 半紙 100枚, 文鎮, 下敷き 書道, 筆ペン.
- Check the size number (号) and hair on brushes, and the size and material (stone or resin) on inkstones.
- Liquid ink: Kuretake’s calligraphy ink is water-based, but liquids are packed and checked separately and carriers can refuse some inks; check the prohibited items list before ordering bottles. Ink sticks, brushes and paper ship more easily.
- Bundle: paper and brushes are light, while stone inkstones are heavy. The first six orders consolidate free; each additional order costs ¥100. Ask for reinforcement (from ¥100) for a stone inkstone.
- Check before it ships: unboxing photos (¥500 / ¥700) or a wrong/missing-item check (¥200) at the Tokyo warehouse.
OneMall buys from Japanese marketplaces such as Mercari, Yahoo Auctions, Rakuten and Amazon Japan, and from other Japanese online stores (including maker web shops) through LinkBuy. Items that need a lottery entry, purchase limit, Japanese identity verification or a merchant account cannot be purchased. International shipping is charged on the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight (length × width × height ÷ 5,000) of the box the warehouse uses.
Service fees are ¥300 per item on most marketplaces; from ¥200 per item on Yahoo Auctions and LinkBuy. The first six orders consolidate free; each additional order costs ¥100. Storage is free for 90 days after arrival (30 days after consolidation). Payment is by Visa, Mastercard or PayPal, settled in USD.
US buyers: since August 29, 2025, US-bound parcels of any value go through customs and pay applicable duties, taxes and fees — the $800 de minimis exemption no longer applies. OneMall currently ships to the United States by ECMS, DHL and Japan Post EMS (DDP — declared value up to USD 2,500, duties prepaid with the shipping fee); the live quote at checkout shows which lines accept your parcel.
Browse calligraphy sets, Kumano calligraphy brushes or Nara ink sticks, and compare the best Japan proxy services and proxy costs by total landed cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Japanese calligraphy brush called?
A fude (筆); a thick one is a futofude and a thin one a hosofude.
What do I need to start Japanese calligraphy?
A thick and a thin brush, liquid ink or an ink stick, an inkstone, hanshi paper, a paperweight and a felt mat — a school calligraphy set has all of them.
Is sumi ink Japanese or Chinese?
Ink sticks came to Japan from China; today Nara makes most of Japan’s ink sticks, in lampblack and pine-soot types.
What is the best paper for Japanese calligraphy?
Hanshi (about 24 × 33 cm) for practice; gasenshi for larger works and exhibitions.
How do you clean a calligraphy brush?
Rinse it in water after use; loosen hardened ink gently with bar soap, reshape the tip and let it dry.
How much is Japanese calligraphy ink?
Kuretake’s 180 ml liquid ink lists at ¥380 before tax; ink sticks start at about ¥650.
What is kakizome?
The first calligraphy of the New Year, written on January 2.
Can I ship liquid calligraphy ink?
Water-based ink is not a flammable liquid, but carriers check liquids; check the prohibited items list before ordering, or choose ink sticks.
References
- Kuretake, 文房五寶. https://www.kuretake.co.jp/product/calligraphy/bunbogohou
- Kuretake, Calligraphy set GA-451S. https://www.kuretake.co.jp/product/calligraphy/shodo-set/detail-ga451-12/
- MEXT, Course of Study (Japanese language). https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shotou/new-cs/youryou/syo/koku.htm
- Hiroshima Prefecture, Kumano-fude. https://www.pref.hiroshima.lg.jp/lab/info/kumanofude/
- Kumano Fude Cooperative. https://www.kumanofude.or.jp/
- Aichi Prefecture, Toyohashi-fude. https://www.pref.aichi.jp/sangyoshinko/jibasangyo/industry/toyohashihude.html
- Nara City, Nara-fude. https://www.city.nara.lg.jp/soshiki/109/4502.html
- Hiroshima Prefecture, Kawajiri-fude. https://www.pref.hiroshima.lg.jp/soshiki/78/1170644821949.html
- Kumano Fude Cooperative, Traditional craft standard. https://www.kumanofude.or.jp/traditional-craft/
- Kuretake, Brushes. https://www.kuretake.co.jp/product/calligraphy/shodo-set/brush/1000/
- Kuretake, Preparing for the new school term. https://www.kuretake.co.jp/product/calligraphy_articles/create_calligraphy/10613/
- Kuretake, About sumi. https://www.kuretake.co.jp/product/calligraphy/sumi
- Nara City, Sumi. https://www.city.nara.lg.jp/soshiki/109/8604.html
- Nara Seiboku Kumiai (Nara ink makers’ association). https://www.sumi-nara.or.jp/
- Nara City, Press release on Nara-zumi designation. https://www.city.nara.lg.jp/site/press-release/7081.html
- Nara Prefecture, Nara-zumi. https://www.pref.nara.lg.jp/n101/1400.html
- Mie Prefecture, Suzuka-zumi. https://www.pref.mie.lg.jp/CHISHI/HP/72497045140.htm
- Kobaien. https://www.kobaien.jp/
- Boku-undo, Company profile. https://boku-undo.co.jp/pages/2/
- Kuretake, Brand history. https://www.kuretake.co.jp/history/
- Kuretake FAQ, Bokuju and Bokuteki. https://www.kuretake.co.jp/faq/calligraphy/ink/q0001/
- Kuretake FAQ, Water-based or oil-based. https://www.kuretake.co.jp/faq/calligraphy/others/q0016/
- Miyagi Prefecture, Ogatsu suzuri. https://www.pref.miyagi.jp/soshiki/shinsan/02suzuri.html
- Ube Tourism, Akama suzuri. https://ube-kankou.or.jp/sightseeing/traditional-crafts/post-32.html
- Yamanashi Prefecture, Amehata suzuri. https://www.pref.yamanashi.jp/shouko/kogyo/densan/amahata_01.html
- Kuretake, Inkstones. https://www.kuretake.co.jp/product/calligraphy/shodo-set/inkstone
- Kuretake, Kakizome. https://www.kuretake.co.jp/product/calligraphy_articles/create_calligraphy/11422/
- Kuretake FAQ, Hansetsu size. https://www.kuretake.co.jp/faq/calligraphy/paper/q0011/
- Tottori Prefecture, Inshu washi. https://www.pref.tottori.lg.jp/95609.htm
- Fukui Prefecture, Traditional crafts. https://www.pref.fukui.lg.jp/doc/sansei/dentoukougeihin.html
- Kuretake, Fudegokochi. https://www.kuretake.co.jp/product/brush-pen/brush/fudegokochi
- Pentel, Pentel Fude pocket brush. https://www.pentel.co.jp/products/brush/pentelfude_pocket_brush/
- Kuretake online shop, price display. https://order.kuretake.co.jp/products/detail/331
- Kuretake online shop, GM1-26. https://order.kuretake.co.jp/products/detail/53742
- Kuretake online shop, Liquid ink. https://order.kuretake.co.jp/products/list?category_id=128
- Kuretake online shop, Ink sticks. https://order.kuretake.co.jp/products/list?category_id=1