Posts
All the articles I've posted.
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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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Best Japanese Calligraphy Wall Art: How to Buy It Right (2026)
By K. YamaMost '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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A Daily Calligraphy Practice Routine That Actually Sticks
By K. YamaTwenty minutes a day beats three hours on Sunday. A Japanese calligrapher's honest daily shodō practice routine — the setup, the warm-up, and what to actually do.
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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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Best Online Japanese Calligraphy Courses (2026)
By K. YamaWant 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 Japanese Calligraphy Gift Set for Japan Lovers (2026)
By K. YamaBuying 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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The Complete Guide to Kanji Tattoos: Get One Right (2026)
By K. YamaMost 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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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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