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What is KAKIZOME? The First Writing Of A Year
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  • Article author: OmotenashiSquare
  • Article tag: authentic japanese products
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What is KAKIZOME? The First Writing Of A Year
Japanese Calligraphy (Shodo) meets Kakizome.  Each country has a new year event and each family has a way of spending the new year. The Japanese major New Year icons are the pine tree, bamboo, plums, and Kakizome. All of them are symbols of good fortune and longevity. Many Japanese people will gather with their families to ring in the new year, while others will go out to enjoy countdown events or see the year's first sunrise. Kakizome "first writing" is a Japanese term for the first calligraphy (Shodo)  written at the beginning of a year, traditionally on January 2.Jan. 2 was traditionally the first day for farmers, merchants, and others to go back to work, and Kakizome is said to be in line with this. In traditional practice, Kakizome is burned at a dondo yaki, or bonfire, where Kakizome, shimenawa (rice straw ropes), kadomatsu (bamboo and pine decorations), and other items unique to Oshogatsu are burned around Jan. 15. However, writing was not for everybody until the Edo Period (1603-1868) when ordinary people began learning writing, reading, and mathematics. At terakoya (a term for schools in the Edo Period), children first learned calligraphy (Shodo) and thus performed kakizome, and schools in the Meiji Era (1868-1912) and later eras carried on this custom. In earlier years, educated adults used to write ancient Chinese poems with many kanji characters for their kakizome.Nowadays, writing just a few kanji is the common form of kakizome, but not many adults engage in it. However, most Japanese schools, from elementary through high school, still teach calligraphy (Shodo) and kakizome is often homework during the winter break. What tools do you need to write Kakizome or to start Calligraphy (Shodo)? The basic items are:1. Ink-stone (SUZURI) and ink (SUMI) 2. Writing brush (FUDE)3. Underlay (MOUSEN)4. Paperweight (BUNCHING)5. Calligraphy paper (HANSHI) Our Japanese Calligraphy (Shodo) sets include item 1 to item 4 Japanese Calligraphy Set Echizen Lacquer Full set The Japanese Calligraphy (Shodo) sets include items 1 to item 4 and pack all items compactly and easily. . For first-time use, you can start by using a writing brush pen. You don't need to have all the items to get started to do Shodo but just a writing brush pen. Japanese Calligraphy Natural Brush Pen To make it simple and easy to start Calligraphy (Shodo), Akashiya's Calligraphy (Shodo) brush pen is the exact right product.   You can find our other calligraphy items below. Japanese Calligraphy (Shodo) Sets and Brushes.  
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Celebrating our 1st year Anniversary
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  • Article author: OmotenashiSquare
  • Article tag: brush pen
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Celebrating our 1st year Anniversary
Celebrating our first year anniversary!!Thankfully we are able to celebrate our very first anniversary. Introducing our TOP 7 selling products.
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Japanese Calligraphy items, Nara Fude/ Nara Brushes
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  • Article author: OmotenashiSquare
  • Article tag: brush pen
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Japanese Calligraphy items, Nara Fude/ Nara Brushes
Our top seller item, Japanese calligraphy Nara fude!  You can find an authentic and the most important item among Japanese calligraphy items here at Omtenashi-Square, Nara fude. Check our product line up here.  We are one of the shopping site to provide Nara fude, and we are quite confident that it is rather difficult to get Nara fude items through other internet shopping sites, since we have reliable relationship with our partner, Akashiya Co, Ltd. founded in 1716AD at Nara Prefecture, Japan. They produce Calligraphy brush, ink but also calligraphy tools, paintbrush, ink painting brush, brush pen and quite recently a makeup brush too.  The writing brush, or fude, became an essential writing tool on the Japanese archipelago during the Kofun period. The origins of Nara fude are said to go back to the eighth century, when the introduction of Buddhism led to the establishment of places to copy the sutras. The hair for these brushes is taken from lambs, horses, the Japanese raccoon, or even cats. The shafts are usually made of bamboo, but are sometimes fashioned from wood. The selected hair is first boiled to remove any kinks and to soften. Enough hair is cut to the same length and bound at one end with a linen thread. This bundle of hair is then introduced into its shaft and fixed with an adhesive. The tip of the brush is either left as it is or is given a coat of gum or funori to bring the hairs together into a point. Each kind of brush, be it wide or narrow, has a purpose om calligraphy or painting. But whatever its purpose, it becomes an extension of the hand of the person using it, giving expression to their words and thoughts, and lending a distinctive style and expressive quality to the characters and images that it is used to write or draw.  
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