Take your first steps on the path to becoming a master calligrapher with a ‘shodo’ class.
Shodo or “the way of writing” is the art of Japanese calligraphy. Just as good handwriting is prized in the West, being skilled with a calligraphy brush to produce beautiful kanji characters is an important attribute of children beginning to learn in elementary school. However, with the widespread use of computers, this art form is kept alive with fewer and fewer devotees.
In a Japanese calligraphy class, you will be introduced to the basics of shodo. You must first learn how to prepare black ink by grinding the ink stone in a tray and mixing it with a little water. Then after loading your brush, the teacher will teach you some basic kanji characters that are always drawn in a specific order of strokes. The teacher will also explain the three writing systems: kanji, hiragana, and katakana, which make up the Japanese script.
You’ll have plenty of time to practice your calligraphy skills before painting a ‘best’ kanji to take home and keep.