Shodo (Japanese Calligraphy)

2-1. Things to prepare

a.Ink stone (Suzuri)

Suzuri (ink stone) is usually made of stone. However, recently there are ones made of lightweighted plastic and pottery.

If you want to use a sumi ink stick, use a stone inkstone. When you use the liquid sumi ink, you may use the inkstone of any kind of material.

(Japanese)硯の材質には石、プラスチック、陶器があります。墨をする場合は石の硯を使いましょう。墨液を使う場合はどのような材質の硯を使ってもよい。

inkstone

Land" is the place to graind an inkstick. "Pond" is the place to save the liquid ink.

After use, please wash an inkstone with water. If you do not wash it, the sumi ink will solidify. Then the color of the sumi becomes dirty the next time..

(Japanese)陸は墨をする場所、池(海)は磨り終わった墨液を貯めておく場所です。使い終わったら水で洗っておきます。洗わないと墨が硬くなってこびりつきます。すると次回硯を使ったときに墨の色が汚くなります。

b. Underlay For Calligraphy (shitajiki)

felt mat

The underlay for calligraphy is a cloth such as felt and lasha. These cloths repel water. There are those with a line and no line. You can use whichever you like.

(Japanese)下敷きはフェルトやラシャなど水をはじく布でできています。ライン付きやラインなしのものがあります。好きなものを使えばよいです。

Sumi (ink stick) and Bokujyu (ink liquid)

sumi stick bokueki,

The Sumi ( ink stick) is used for making ink liquid by yourself. Bokueki (ink liquid) is used out of hand or diluted with water.
There are kinds of colors (black, brown, blue series) in ink. You can use whatever you like. There are various prices for ink, but you may choose according to your budget.

Do not put the sumi liquid left after training into the bottle. That is to preserve the quality of sumi ink liquid.

(Japanese)固形墨は自分で磨って使うもの。墨液は水で薄めて使うものや、そのまま使うものがあります。墨の色には黒系・茶系・青系などがありますが、好きなものを使えばよいでしょう。価格も様々ですが、予算に合わせて選んでください。固形墨を使い終わったら水分を取って箱に入れて置きます。それは墨の乾燥を避けて、墨が割れるのを防ぐためです。稽古後にボトル入りの墨が余っても、元のボトルに戻してはいけません。元に戻すと墨の品質が悪くなるからです。

Attention: It is very difficult to remove sumi ink stain.

sumi stain,