Home › Crafts & Living › Calligraphy & Sumi-e (Shodo) › Sumi Ink Sticks & Stones

Japanese Solid Sumi Ink Sticks & Ink Stone – Kobaien, Bokuundo, Akashiya, Kuretake

Item #SHODO-INK

€10–50

+ shipping from €13 to Europe

✓ Shipped from Japan by Japan Post, tracked
✓ 1,500+ sales and 250+ positive reviews on eBay & Catawiki — read reviews
✓ Secure payment with PayPal · shipping · returns

Choose your type

Type	Price	Maker	Size	Soot	Model
Ink stick – Kobaien Mitsuboshi Kokaboku (3 stars), 1.0	€21	Kobaien (Nara, est. 1577)	1.0 chogata	–	–
Ink stick – Kobaien Itsutsuboshi Kokaboku (5 stars), 1.0	€50	Kobaien (Nara, est. 1577)	1.0 chogata	Rapeseed oil	–
Ink stick – Akashiya Handmade Yushin, 2.0	€24	Akashiya (Nara)	2.0 chogata	–	AC-03
Ink stick – Akashiya Handmade Bokurin, 1.3	€10	Akashiya (Nara)	1.3 chogata	–	AC-02
Ink stick – Bokuundo Gyokuhin, kanji, 1.0	€13	Bokuundo (Nara)	1.0 chogata	–	00801
Ink stick – Bokuundo Daigen, kanji, 1.3	€20	Bokuundo (Nara)	1.3 chogata	–	00852
Ink stick – Bokuundo Saoshika, kana, 1.0	€22	Bokuundo (Nara)	1.0 chogata	–	01803
Ink stick – Bokuundo Sawarabi, kana, 1.0	€33	Bokuundo (Nara)	1.0 chogata	–	02301
Ink stick – Kuretake Genko, 3.0	€17	Kuretake (Nara)	3.0 chogata	–	AE5-30
Ink stick – Bokuundo Suzaku vermilion (shuboku)	€11	Bokuundo (Nara)	–	–	15102
Ink stone – Kuretake Seiran natural stone suzuri, 4.5 hira	€11	Kuretake	approx. 7.5 × 13.5 cm	–	HA205-45

Description

Traditional solid sumi ink sticks from Nara, the home of Japanese ink making. Grind the stick with a little water on an ink stone (suzuri) to make fresh ink – the depth and tone are richer than bottled ink, and nothing can leak in the post. The "chogata" number is the size of the stick (1.0 = about 15 g). Kana inks are for fine, thin writing; kanji inks for bold characters. Vermilion (shuboku) is used for corrections and seal-style work. Add the Kuretake Seiran stone if you do not have one yet.