Tag: kanji
All the articles with the tag "kanji".
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Water Kanji (水): Meaning, the Five Elements, and How to Write It
By K. YamaUpdated:The kanji 水 (mizu) means water: a four-stroke picture of a flowing stream, and one half of every drop of sumi ink. Meaning, philosophy, and brushwork.
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Way Kanji (道): Meaning, Stroke Order & How to Write It
By K. YamaUpdated:The kanji 道 (dō) ends karate, judo, aikido, and shodō alike. What 'the way' really means in Japanese, and how to write the character that names a lifetime.
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Zen Kanji (禅): Real Meaning, Origin, and How to Write It
By K. YamaUpdated:Zen kanji (禅) means far more than 'calm' — it names a school, a practice, and a centuries-long argument about the mind. Real meaning and how to write it.
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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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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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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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