Posts
All the articles I've posted.
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Best Inkstone (Suzuri) for Beginners (2026)
By K. YamaUpdated:Most beginners do not need an inkstone yet. Here is when you actually do, what makes a good suzuri, and which one to buy when that day comes.
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Best Japanese Calligraphy Gift Set for Japan Lovers (2026)
By K. YamaUpdated:Buying a calligraphy set as a gift is different from buying one to practice. A calligrapher's guide to gift sets that are beautiful AND actually work.
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How to Grind Sumi Ink on an Inkstone (and Why Bother)
By K. YamaUpdated:Grinding your own ink takes ten minutes and changes everything. How to grind a sumi inkstick on a suzuri — and why calligraphers still do it by hand.
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Kintsugi: The Japanese Art of Golden Repair (Not Gold Glue)
By K. YamaUpdated:Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold — slow lacquer craft, not gold glue. How it's really done, and what the seams mean.
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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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Best Japanese Calligraphy Brush for Beginners (2026)
By K. YamaUpdated:Most beginner calligraphy brushes are sold by people who don't write with one. A Japanese calligrapher compares the three brushes worth your first purchase.
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Best Japanese Calligraphy Book for Beginners (2026)
By K. YamaUpdated:Most calligraphy books for beginners pad pages with theory you can't use. A Japanese calligrapher's picks for the three books actually worth buying first.
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Best Japanese Calligraphy Set for Beginners (2026)
By K. YamaUpdated:A calligrapher's honest look at the best Japanese calligraphy starter sets for beginners in 2026 — what to buy, what to skip, and which kits are actually good.
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What Is Hiragana? The 46-Character Heart of Written Japanese
By K. YamaUpdated:Hiragana is the flowing 46-character script at the heart of written Japanese, born from cursive kanji. Where it came from, and why it's beautiful to write.
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What Is Hanshi Paper? 5 Things Beginners Should Know
By K. YamaUpdated:Hanshi is the standard practice paper for Japanese calligraphy. What it is, which side to write on, how to store it, and what to buy first.
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