In recent times, we don’t have many opportunities to use a brush to write text.
Nowadays, even formal letters and thank-you letters are all printed using a computer. While modern technology is useful, hand-written letters are more effective in conveying our true thoughts and feelings. While the art of calligraphy has been waning, why not try using a traditional Japanese calligraphy brush to put some of your thoughts down on paper. Using a brush is not as difficult as is seems. In fact, as penmanship improves, a unique sense of accomplishment and pleasure can be found from writing with a brush.
At HiSUi TOKYO’s calligraphy lessons, beginners will be guided through the basics including correct writing posture and how to effectively hold and write using a brush. For more experienced learners, we offer courses which will further build and hone your skills. You will practice writing horizontal and vertical strokes, dots, flicked and powerful strokes. HiSUi TOKYO’s calligraphy classes are held in our dojo (training room) which is modeled after the training halls of the Azuchi-Momoyama period.
After learning about the basics of calligraphy, we offer a variety of extra courses to further improve your skills and deepen your understanding. The level of difficulty will gradually rise and depending on your progress and improvement, it’s possible to eventually become a qualified instructor of Japanese calligraphy!
By the end of a typical course of lessons you will be able to write your name and address using Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji. After leaning more about the world of Kanji by studying the ancient calligraphy texts, such as ‘Rantei-zyo’ or ‘Gantou-syougyou-zyo’, you can experience making a variety of different calligraphy pieces. For those who want to express themselves thoroughly through the world of Japanese calligraphy you can learn how to write ‘Kannon’ text and ‘Hotoke-go’ (Buddhist language) for poems or ‘Hyakunin-isshu’ (a traditional Japanese poem card game).
Here at HiSUi TOKYO, we believe in providing the highest quality experience of Japanese culture. If you are visiting Japan and interested in learning more about Japanese tea ceremony or other Japanese art forms, please try our Culture Experience Plan. If you are living in Japan and would like to become a student, please take a look at our monthly membership plan. We are looking forward to meeting you and making your experience in Japan a memorable one!
Vertical strokes, horizontal strokes, dots, strokes with force to the right, strokes with force to the left, angled strokes, flicked strokes to the right, flicked strokes to the left, other strokes
Kanji
Kanji radicals (parts) including: ‘U-kanmuri’, ‘Kusa-kanmuri’, ‘Yama-kanmuri’, ‘Take-kanmuri’
Kanji
Kanji radicals (parts) including: ‘Tsutsumi-gamae’, ‘Hako-gamae’, ‘Kuni-gamae’, ‘Gyo-gamae’
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Common Japanese words
‘Haikei’ (Dear sir/madam- formal)、’Keigu’ (Sincerely- formal)、’Zenryaku’ (Dear sir/madam- casual)、’Sousou’ (Sincerly- casual)、’Kinga’ (New years celebration)、’Shinnen’ (New year)、’Kanchu’ (Midwinter)、’Zansyo’ (End of summer)、’Shiwasu’ (Traditional word for ‘December’)
Common Japanese words
‘Totsuzen’ (Suddenly), ‘Shitsurei’ (Excuse me), ‘Sassoku’ (Immediately), ‘Nanitozo’ (Please), ‘Shusseki’ (Attending), ‘Kesseki’ (Absent), ‘Risshun wo mukae’ (To celebrate the Vernal equinox), ‘Nenmatsu-nenshi’ (End of the year, start of the new year)
Common Japanese words
‘Totsuzen’ (Suddenly), ‘Shitsurei’ (Excuse me), ‘Sassoku’ (Immediately), ‘Nanitozo’ (Please), ‘Shusseki’ (Attending), ‘Kesseki’ (Absent), ‘Risshun wo mukae’ (To celebrate the Vernal equinox), ‘Nenmatsu-nenshi’ (End of the year, start of the new year)
People’s names
Writing people’s names vertically and horizontally
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Place names
Writing place names vertically and horizontally
Numbers
Writing numerical digits, Kanji numbers- both vertically and horizontally
Greetings
Seasonal greetings, Take Care greetings, etc
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Letters
Summer greetings (For use over Spring – Summer), Sympathy statements, Apology statements
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Congratulatory and thank-you sentences
Congratulatory sentences from examples, etc
Greetings cards, Contact notes, Invitation cards
Congratulations on the birth of your new child, etc
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Address writing
Fundamentals, writing addresses vertically
Address writing
Fundamentals, writing addresses vertically
Formal sentences
Formal greetings and letter opening sentences, closing sentences, etc
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Phrases used on ‘Noshibukuro’
(Envelopes used for gift money)
Example sentences, how to write names, family celebrations, ‘Omimai’ (Visiting people who are ill), rewards, small tokens, congratulations, to all employees, etc
