【Product Feature】 Suitable for kanji and kana calligraphy, and equally at home as a decorative object. A Kinkoen original made from rapeseed-oil soot, shaped in a traditional confectionery mould. Set it in an entrance hall or a room and the distinctive natural fragrance of sumi will quietly fill the space. 【Recommended For】 Gift & Display (Japanese Sweets) · Professional & Master Grade Its auspicious form makes it a piece to display in an entrance hall or a room, where the natural scent of sumi lingers. 【Design & Story】 Nara is said to be the birthplace of Japanese sweets, and sweet-mould ink sticks have been a staple of our decorative sumi for many years. The crane is a symbol of longevity and of harmony between people, making this a deeply auspicious piece — ideal as a gift or for display. 【Specifications】 Weight: 23g Soot: Rapeseed-oil soot (Natane-yuen) Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Tone: Deep, intense black Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for kanji and kana calligraphy, and equally at home as a decorative object. A Kinkoen original made from rapeseed-oil soot, shaped in a traditional confectionery mould. Set it in an entrance hall or a room and the distinctive natural fragrance of sumi will quietly fill the space. 【Recommended For】 Gift & Display (Japanese Sweets) · Professional & Master Grade Its auspicious form makes it a piece to display in an entrance hall or a room, where the natural scent of sumi lingers. 【Design & Story】 Nara is said to be the birthplace of Japanese sweets, and sweet-mould ink sticks have been a staple of our decorative sumi for many years. The turtle is a symbol of longevity and good fortune in wealth, making this a deeply auspicious piece — ideal as a gift or for display. 【Specifications】 Weight: 30g Soot: Rapeseed-oil soot (Natane-yuen) Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Tone: Deep, intense black Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for kanji and kana calligraphy, and equally at home as a decorative object. A Kinkoen original made from rapeseed-oil soot, shaped in a traditional confectionery mould. Set it in an entrance hall or a room and the distinctive natural fragrance of sumi will quietly fill the space. 【Recommended For】 Gift & Display (Japanese Sweets) · Professional & Master Grade Its auspicious form makes it a piece to display in an entrance hall or a room, where the natural scent of sumi lingers. 【Design & Story】 Nara is said to be the birthplace of Japanese sweets, and sweet-mould ink sticks have been a staple of our decorative sumi for many years. The pine is a symbol of longevity, making this a deeply auspicious piece — ideal as a gift or for display. 【Specifications】 Weight: 45g Soot: Rapeseed-oil soot (Natane-yuen) Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Tone: Deep, intense black Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for kanji and kana calligraphy, and equally at home as a decorative object. Their greatest appeal is the fragrance of the ink itself, achieved through a special process — a side of sumi that feels as though it should always have existed, yet never has. Enjoy it not only by writing, but by looking and by breathing it in. Offered at 10% off the total of the individual prices. 【Recommended For】 Set · Gift & Display (Asuka Inks) Three fragrances and three blessings in a single set — an easy choice as a gift. 【Design & Story】 A set of three auspicious gigaku masks: Karura for warding off evil, Rikishi for strong legs, and Gojo for feminine beauty. Tuck one away on the desk in your room and a soft scent of sumi drifts through the air. A fine gift for someone you care about. 【Specifications】 Contents: 3 ink sticks — Karura (24g), Rikishi (20g), Gojo (24g) Soot: Rapeseed-oil soot (Natane-yuen) Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Tone: Deep, intense black Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for kanji and kana calligraphy, and equally at home as a decorative object. A set of three Kinkoen originals made from rapeseed-oil soot and shaped in traditional confectionery moulds. Offered at 10% off the total of the individual prices. 【Recommended For】 Set · Gift & Display (Japanese Sweets) Three auspicious forms in a single set — an easy choice as a gift. 【Design & Story】 Nara is said to be the birthplace of Japanese sweets, and these sweet-mould ink sticks have been a staple of our decorative sumi for many years. All three motifs are auspicious: the pine for longevity, the turtle for longevity and good fortune in wealth, and the crane for longevity and harmony between people. Set them in an entrance hall or a room and the distinctive natural fragrance of sumi will quietly fill the space. 【Specifications】 Contents: 3 ink sticks — Pine (45g), Turtle (30g), Crane (23g) Soot: Rapeseed-oil soot (Natane-yuen) Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Tone: Deep, intense black Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for manga and anime illustration, and equally at home as a decorative object. Made by Kinkoen from rapeseed-oil soot and scented with natural fragrance, each of the three sticks carries the kumadori of a celebrated kabuki role and a scent drawn from the play it belongs to. Grind it and write with it, of course — but please also enjoy the beauty of its form and its fragrance. 【Recommended For】 Set · Gift & Display · Manga & Anime Illustration Three faces and three fragrances, each in its own paulownia box 【Design & Story】 Kumadori is the bold painted makeup of kabuki. Kuma means the boundary between light and shadow, and the lines exaggerate the blood vessels and muscles beneath the skin; red kumadori stands for justice, courage and hot-blooded youth. The designs are provided and supervised by Shochiku, and the moulds were carved by Nakamura Gaho (b. 1932). Sakura (Cherry Blossom) — from Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura, "Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees". Cherry blossom, soft and sweet, taken straight from the play's name. Ume (Plum) — from Kotobuki Soga no Taimen, whose stage is hung with red and white plum branches. Plum, green and sweet at once. Jinko (Agarwood) — from Meiboku Sendai Hagi, whose title names kyara, a prized grade of agarwood. Agarwood, refined and deep. 【Specifications】 Contents: 3 ink sticks — Sakura (40g), Ume (40g), Jinko (40g) Soot: Rapeseed-oil soot (Natane-yuen) Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Tone: Deep, intense black Mould carving: Nakamura Gaho, sumi-mould sculptor Design supervision: Shochiku Co., Ltd. Presentation: Each ink stick in its own paulownia box Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for drawing and sketching, and for Western calligraphy and lettering. Though the stick is thin, it has genuine three-dimensional presence, and the expression on the face carries a deep, quiet character. A piece you can enjoy as an object as much as an ink, in a size that is just right for everyday use. 【Recommended For】 Drawing & Sketching · Western Calligraphy & Lettering A thin stick that grinds easily and gives a clearly defined black — well suited to detail work with a pen or fine brush. 【Design & Story】 It depicts Gojo, a mask from gigaku — Japan's ancient masked theatre — a figure long regarded as an auspicious symbol presiding over feminine beauty. The mould was carved by Nakamura Gaho, a sumi-mould sculptor. 【Specifications】 Weight: 23g Soot: Rapeseed-oil soot (Natane-yuen) Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Tone: Deep, intense black Mould carving: Nakamura Gaho, sumi-mould sculptor Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for mixed kanji and kana, kana only, large characters, and combinations of characters and illustrations. A gentle blue that stays soft and quiet across the whole range, in a slim stick. A blue-black ink with an excellent balance between black and blue. 【Recommended For】 Sumi-e / Ink Wash Painting · Suminagashi (Paper Marbling) · Tattoo Art (Design & Flash) A gentle blue that stays soft across the whole range, with an excellent balance between black and blue. 【Design & Story】 On the reverse is Guan Yu, hero of the Three Kingdoms, revered as the god of prosperous business and wealth. 【Specifications】 Weight: 38g Soot: Oil soot (Yuen-boku) blended with blue dye Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Tone: Blue-black with a soft grey cast (Sei-boku) Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for kanji and kana calligraphy, and equally at home as a decorative object. A Kinkoen original made from rapeseed-oil soot. Made by a special process, the stick itself carries a soft fragrance, so you can enjoy it by scent and by sight as much as by writing. 【Recommended For】 Gift & Display (Asuka Inks) · Professional & Master Grade The fragrance worked into the stick makes it as much a piece to keep on a desk as a material to write with. 【Design & Story】 Shaped after the gigaku masks that are among Nara's greatest treasures. Gojo has long been an auspicious figure presiding over feminine beauty. Set it down, admire it, and breathe in its scent — an ideal gift. 【Specifications】 Weight: 24g Soot: Rapeseed-oil soot (Natane-yuen) Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Tone: Deep, intense black Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for kanji and kana calligraphy, and equally at home as a decorative object. A Kinkoen original made from rapeseed-oil soot. Made by a special process, the stick itself carries a soft fragrance, so you can enjoy it by scent and by sight as much as by writing. 【Recommended For】 Gift & Display (Asuka Inks) · Professional & Master Grade The fragrance worked into the stick makes it as much a piece to keep on a desk as a material to write with. 【Design & Story】 Shaped after the gigaku masks that are among Nara's greatest treasures. Rikishi is a symbol of strong legs and robust bodily health. Set it down, admire it, and breathe in its scent — an ideal gift. 【Specifications】 Weight: 20g Soot: Rapeseed-oil soot (Natane-yuen) Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Tone: Deep, intense black Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for kanji and kana calligraphy, and equally at home as a decorative object. A Kinkoen original made from rapeseed-oil soot. Made by a special process, the stick itself carries a soft fragrance, so you can enjoy it by scent and by sight as much as by writing. 【Recommended For】 Gift & Display (Asuka Inks) · Professional & Master Grade The fragrance worked into the stick makes it as much a piece to keep on a desk as a material to write with. 【Design & Story】 Shaped after the gigaku masks that are among Nara's greatest treasures. Karura has long been an auspicious guardian, known for warding off evil. Set it down, admire it, and breathe in its scent — an ideal gift. 【Specifications】 Weight: 24g Soot: Rapeseed-oil soot (Natane-yuen) Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Tone: Deep, intense black Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for kanji, mixed kanji and kana, and large characters. Works as both dark ink and light wash. Comfortable to grind, with a black of slightly clouded texture. Its generous size suits anyone who grinds large quantities of ink. 【Recommended For】 Manga & Anime Illustration · Western Calligraphy & Lettering Grinds comfortably and covers both fine linework and dense black, and its generous size suits anyone who needs a lot of ink at once. 【Design & Story】 The face carries a line from a poem by Qian Qi, the Tang-dynasty poet. Kigan — geese returning north — has long appeared in Japanese waka poetry and is a season word for spring; because geese fly in formation, they also stand as a symbol of the bonds between people. The boldly modelled goose gives the stick real volume. 【Specifications】 Weight: 55g Soot: Mineral-oil soot (Kobutsusei-yuen) Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for kanji, mixed kanji and kana, and large characters. A black with an excellent bleed; dark ink in particular feels fresh and vivid. 【Recommended For】 Western Calligraphy & Lettering An excellent bleed with a fresh, vivid dark ink — a good match for pen and flat-brush lettering. 【Design & Story】 Its striking form recalls an ancient bronze bell (dotaku), making it one of the most distinctive shapes in our range. 【Specifications】 Weight: 45g Soot: Mineral-oil soot (Kobutsusei-yuen) Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for mixed kanji and kana, kana only, large characters, and combinations of characters and illustrations. Comfortable to grind, with an outstanding baseline and a superb bleed. Both dark and light ink carry the flavour of a koboku, an aged ink stick. 【Recommended For】 Sumi-e / Ink Wash Painting · Suminagashi (Paper Marbling) An outstanding baseline and bleed, with the mellow flavour of an aged ink stick in both dark and light ink. 【Design & Story】 The name joins gyokudo, a beautiful palace adorned with jade, and seisho, the coolness that relieves the summer heat. 【Specifications】 Weight: 30g Soot: Oil soot (Yuen-boku) blended with blue dye Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Tone: Blue-black with a soft grey cast (Sei-boku) Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for mixed kanji and kana, kana only, large characters, and combinations of characters and illustrations. Very comfortable to grind, with a beautiful bleed in light ink. A blue-black with a little weight to it overall. 【Recommended For】 Sumi-e / Ink Wash Painting · Suminagashi (Paper Marbling) · Tattoo Art (Design & Flash) Grinds very comfortably and bleeds beautifully in light ink, with a blue-black that carries a little weight. 【Design & Story】 Shaped without a wooden mould, it has the texture of an antique ink stick, and its unique boat-like form makes it a pleasure to hold. 【Specifications】 Weight: 30g Soot: Oil soot (Yuen-boku) blended with blue dye Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Tone: Blue-black with a soft grey cast (Sei-boku) Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for kanji, kana, and fine characters. Excellent bleed, with a glossy black and a delicate light tone. Made with precious sesame-oil soot, it gives a deep black with real depth. 【Recommended For】 Japanese Calligraphy (Fine & Detailed Script) · Drawing & Sketching Excellent bleed with a glossy black and a delicate light tone — a good match for fine characters and close detail work. 【Design & Story】 The lion is a symbol of protection, long believed to ward off evil. On the reverse it is shown at rest beneath a peony: night dew dripping from the flower cures the parasites within the lion’s body, making the peony its one place of safety. 【Specifications】 Weight: 15g Soot: Sesame-oil soot (Goma-yuen) Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Tone: Deep, intense black Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for kanji, mixed kanji and kana, and large characters. An elegant, composed black. Light ink feels crisp and refreshing, and the bleed on paper is beautiful. Its generous size makes it best suited to intermediate and advanced users. 【Recommended For】 Japanese Calligraphy (Bold & Dynamic Stroke) · Drawing & Sketching An elegant, composed black with a beautiful bleed. Its generous size holds up through large-scale work. 【Design & Story】 A three-dimensional pine tree and a pair of cranes are carved on the reverse side. 【Specifications】 Weight: 75g Soot: Rapeseed-oil soot (Natane-yuen) Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Tone: Deep, intense black Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for kanji, mixed kanji and kana, large characters, combinations of characters and illustrations, and sutra copying. The deep black that only pure pine soot can give, with real depth in the light wash as well. It offers a wide range of expression between dark ink and light wash. 【Recommended For】 Japanese Calligraphy (Bold & Dynamic Stroke) · Sumi-e / Ink Wash Painting · Manga & Anime Illustration, and more — suited to a wide range of uses. Pure pine soot gives a deep black with real depth in the light wash, and a wide tonal range that rewards experienced hands. 【Design & Story】 Its hexagonal form is unusual for an ink stick, and a dragon coils around it as it rises towards heaven — a design as striking as the ink itself. Like all pine-soot ink, its tone shifts gradually towards grey as the stick ages — a change that unfolds over years. 【Specifications】 Weight: 23g Soot: Pine soot (Shoen-boku) Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Tone: Matte bluish black (Sei-boku) Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for kanji, kana, and fine characters. Dark ink is a reddish black carrying a slightly muted depth, paired with a delicate light wash. Made with precious sesame-oil soot, it gives a deep black with real dimension. 【Recommended For】 Japanese Calligraphy (Fine & Detailed Script) · Drawing & Sketching · Manga & Anime Illustration, and more — suited to a wide range of uses. Sesame-oil soot gives a reddish black with real depth, and the delicate light wash keeps fine lines and tones under control. 【Design & Story】 Gyokuryu, child of the dragon god, is carved coiling around all four faces of the stick. 【Specifications】 Weight: 23g Soot: Sesame-oil soot (Goma-yuen) Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Tone: Deep, intense black Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for kanji, mixed kanji and kana, large characters, and combinations of characters and illustrations. It takes a little effort to grind, but rewards you with a fine black carrying a distinctly blue cast. The baseline stays clear and the bleed is excellent. It offers a wide range of expression between dark ink and light wash. 【Recommended For】 Japanese Calligraphy (Bold & Dynamic Stroke) · Japanese Calligraphy (Fine & Detailed Script) · Sumi-e / Ink Wash Painting, and more — suited to a wide range of uses. A fine black with a distinctly blue cast, a clear baseline and an excellent bleed — strong across both thick and thin brushwork. 【Design & Story】 A slightly slender stick bearing the ho-o, the bird held in China to be a sign of good fortune. Like all pine-soot ink, its tone shifts gradually towards grey as the stick ages — a change that unfolds over years. 【Specifications】 Weight: 23g Soot: Pine soot (Shoen-boku), red pine Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Tone: Matte bluish black (Sei-boku) Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for kanji, mixed kanji and kana, large characters, and combinations of characters and illustrations. Dark ink is a jet black and light ink stays delicate, though the range of tone between the two is somewhat narrow. Recommended for intermediate and advanced users. 【Recommended For】 Japanese Calligraphy (Bold & Dynamic Stroke) · Japanese Calligraphy (Fine & Detailed Script) · Sumi-e / Ink Wash Painting, and more — suited to a wide range of uses. Jet-black dark ink and a delicate light wash, with a clear baseline. Recommended for those who want a controlled, refined tone. 【Design & Story】 On the reverse, a thousand-year pine — a symbol of longevity — is carved with great force. Like all pine-soot ink, its tone shifts gradually towards grey as the stick ages — a change that unfolds over years. 【Specifications】 Weight: 30g Soot: Pine soot (Shoen-boku) Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Tone: Matte bluish black (Sei-boku) Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for kanji, mixed kanji and kana, large characters, and combinations of characters and illustrations. Comfortable to grind. Both dark and light ink perform well; the light wash carries a faint blue, though the tone still feels young. Made from red-pine soot, it is the most fundamental of our pine-soot ink sticks. 【Recommended For】 Japanese Calligraphy (Bold & Dynamic Stroke) · Sumi-e / Ink Wash Painting · Textile Dyeing, and more — suited to a wide range of uses. Red-pine soot gives a faintly blue light wash and a clean gradation, the qualities that ink wash painting and dyeing rely on. 【Design & Story】 A simple, unadorned form that lets the quality of the pine soot speak for itself. Like all pine-soot ink, its tone shifts gradually towards grey as the stick ages — a change that unfolds over years. 【Specifications】 Weight: 15g Soot: Pine soot (Shoen-boku), red pine Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Tone: Matte bluish black (Sei-boku) Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for kanji, mixed kanji and kana, large characters, combinations of characters and illustrations, and sutra copying. Comfortable to grind, with the deep black characteristic of pure pine soot. It offers a wide range of expression between dark ink and light wash, and is recommended for intermediate and advanced users. 【Recommended For】 Japanese Calligraphy (Fine & Detailed Script) · Sumi-e / Ink Wash Painting · Textile Dyeing, and more — suited to a wide range of uses. Pure pine soot gives a deep black and a wide tonal range, comfortable to grind even over long sessions. 【Design & Story】 A lively scene of nine children at play is deeply carved into the surface. Like all pine-soot ink, its tone shifts gradually towards grey as the stick ages — a change that unfolds over years. 【Specifications】 Weight: 45g Soot: Pine soot (Shoen-boku) Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Tone: Matte bluish black (Sei-boku) Made in Nara, Japan

【Product Feature】 Suitable for mixed kanji and kana, kana only, and combinations of characters and illustrations. An elegant blue that is especially attractive in light ink, with a beautiful bleed. Easy to handle and comfortable to grind. 【Recommended For】 Sumi-e / Ink Wash Painting · Suminagashi (Paper Marbling) · Tattoo Art (Design & Flash) An elegant blue that is especially attractive in light ink, with a beautiful bleed and an easy grind. 【Design & Story】 A blue-black ink distinguished by its refined colour, in a plain form that keeps the focus on the ink. 【Specifications】 Weight: 23g Soot: Oil soot (Yuen-boku) blended with blue dye Binder: Animal glue (nikawa) Tone: Blue-black with a soft grey cast (Sei-boku) Made in Nara, Japan