【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 a variety of uses, including kanji and kana, kana only, and combinations of characters and illustrations. It has a light brown hue, and its thin form makes it easy to grind. With its wide range of uses and moderate size, it is perfect for beginners. 【Recommended For】 Japanese Calligraphy (Fine & Detailed Script) · Drawing & Sketching · Practice Grade Its thin form takes little effort to grind, so fine lines stay under control, and the clear black reads well in sketch work. 【Design & Story】 Inspired by Nara, it features a design of a herd of seven deer. 【Specifications】 Weight: 18g 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. The colour carries a soft reddish-purple cast. It grinds smoothly and works as both dark ink and light wash, though the light wash comes out especially pale. A versatile ink stick that handles a wide range of uses. 【Recommended For】 Japanese Calligraphy (Bold & Dynamic Stroke) · Drawing & Sketching · Western Calligraphy & Lettering, and more — suited to a wide range of uses. Grinds smoothly and performs at both strengths, and its especially pale light wash gives you room to work in fine detail. 【Design & Story】 On the reverse side is a horse — an animal long close to people and regarded as a bringer of success and prosperity — rendered as a magnificent bronze steed with powerful limbs. 【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 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 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, 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. Dark ink is a light brownish black. It works as both dark ink and light wash, and the light wash bleeds beautifully. A versatile ink stick that handles a wide range of uses. 【Recommended For】 Japanese Calligraphy (Bold & Dynamic Stroke) · Drawing & Sketching · Manga & Anime Illustration, and more — suited to a wide range of uses. A light brownish black that works at any strength, with a light wash that bleeds beautifully — an all-rounder for line, wash and pattern alike. 【Design & Story】 The reverse side shows a dragon climbing dynamically above the breaking spray — the “ascending dragon”, one of the most auspicious of all motifs and a symbol of rising fortune. 【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, 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, 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