Authenthic ink sticks for your calligraphy works

Shinseido has been established in 1947 and nowadays is run by the 3rd and 4th generation of the Ito family. It is one of 5 remaining makers of Japanese Ink in Suzuka - a city not only famous for the F1 circuit, but also a center of production of traditional ink sticks. Shinseido has been recognized as a traditional producer of ink craft by the Japanese government. They produce and sell a large line-up of traditional inks for general use as well as special inks for writing kanji, hiragana or drawing. A recent innovation of Shinseido is the series of ink sticks including color pigments that allow to set accents when drawing with Japanese ink.

SHINSEIDO INK STICKS

Sidebar Sidebar Sidebar
  • Shinseido BRONZE Ink Stick, "Dousha" size 0.7
    Add to Cart The item has been added

    SHINSEIDO INK STICKS

    Shinseido BRONZE Ink Stick, "Dousha" size 0.7

    Shinseido has been established in 1947 and nowadays is run by the 3rd and 4th generation of the Ito family. It is one of 5 remaining makers of Japanese Ink in Suzuka - a city not only famous for the...
    $35.20
    Add to Cart The item has been added
  • Shinseido SILVER Ink Stick, "Ginsha" size 0.7
    Add to Cart The item has been added

    SHINSEIDO INK STICKS

    Shinseido SILVER Ink Stick, "Ginsha" size 0.7

    Shinseido has been established in 1947 and nowadays is run by the 3rd and 4th generation of the Ito family. It is one of 5 remaining makers of Japanese Ink in Suzuka - a city not only famous for the...
    $35.20
    Add to Cart The item has been added
  • Shinseido WHITE Ink Stick, "Unohana" size 1

    SHINSEIDO INK STICKS

    Shinseido WHITE Ink Stick, "Unohana" size 1

    Shinseido has been established in 1947 and nowadays is run by the 3rd and 4th generation of the Ito family. It is one of 5 remaining makers of Japanese Ink in Suzuka - a city not only famous for the...
    $24.64
  • Shinseido YELLOW Ink Stick, "Kohaku" size 1
    Add to Cart The item has been added

    SHINSEIDO INK STICKS

    Shinseido YELLOW Ink Stick, "Kohaku" size 1

    Shinseido has been established in 1947 and nowadays is run by the 3rd and 4th generation of the Ito family. It is one of 5 remaining makers of Japanese Ink in Suzuka - a city not only famous for the...
    $24.64
    Add to Cart The item has been added
  • Shinseido BLUE Ink Stick, "Ruri" size 1
    Add to Cart The item has been added

    SHINSEIDO INK STICKS

    Shinseido BLUE Ink Stick, "Ruri" size 1

    Shinseido has been established in 1947 and nowadays is run by the 3rd and 4th generation of the Ito family. It is one of 5 remaining makers of Japanese Ink in Suzuka - a city not only famous for the...
    $24.64
    Add to Cart The item has been added
  • Shinseido PURPLE Ink Stick, "Shikibu" size 1
    Add to Cart The item has been added

    SHINSEIDO INK STICKS

    Shinseido PURPLE Ink Stick, "Shikibu" size 1

    Shinseido has been established in 1947 and nowadays is run by the 3rd and 4th generation of the Ito family. It is one of 5 remaining makers of Japanese Ink in Suzuka - a city not only famous for the...
    $24.64
    Add to Cart The item has been added
  • Shinseido GREEN Ink Stick, "Shinpeki" size 1
    Add to Cart The item has been added

    SHINSEIDO INK STICKS

    Shinseido GREEN Ink Stick, "Shinpeki" size 1

    Shinseido has been established in 1947 and nowadays is run by the 3rd and 4th generation of the Ito family. It is one of 5 remaining makers of Japanese Ink in Suzuka - a city not only famous for the...
    $24.64
    Add to Cart The item has been added
  • Shinseido RED Ink Stick, "Shinku" size 1
    Add to Cart The item has been added

    SHINSEIDO INK STICKS

    Shinseido RED Ink Stick, "Shinku" size 1

    Shinseido has been established in 1947 and nowadays is run by the 3rd and 4th generation of the Ito family. It is one of 5 remaining makers of Japanese Ink in Suzuka - a city not only famous for the...
    $24.64
    Add to Cart The item has been added
  • Shinseido Ink Stick for Kanji, AKO 10.0 size 10 Shinseido Ink Stick for Kanji, AKO 10.0 size 10
    Add to Cart The item has been added

    SHINSEIDO INK STICKS

    Ink Stick for Kanji, AKO 10.0 size 10

    The AKO ink stick produces a high quality ink ideal for the calligraphy of kanji characters. It is matt and not shiny black with a purple notion.Shinseido has been established in 1947 and nowadays is...
    $70.40
    Add to Cart The item has been added
  • Shinseido Professional Calligraphy Ink Stone Shinseido Professional Calligraphy Ink Stone
    Add to Cart The item has been added

    SHINSEIDO INK STICKS

    Professional Calligraphy Ink Stone

    Shinseido has been established in 1947 and nowadays is run by the 3rd and 4th generation of the Ito family. It is one of 5 remaining makers of Japanese Ink in Suzuka - a city not only famous for the...
    $49.28
    Add to Cart The item has been added
  • Shinseido Sesame Rapeseed Oil Kanji Calligraphy Ink Stick

    SHINSEIDO INK STICKS

    Shinseido Sesame Rapeseed Oil Kanji Calligraphy Ink Stick

    Shinseido has been established in 1947 and nowadays is run by the 3rd and 4th generation of the Ito family. It is one of 5 remaining makers of Japanese Ink in Suzuka - a city not only famous for the...
    $70.40

This video gives a very good overview on the production process of Japanese ink sticks from burning wood and collecting the ashes, adding glue, forming the sticks, drying and adding drawings at the very end. 

Ink sticks have been a very practical way of conserving and transporting ink. The ink is obtained by rubbing the ink stick, called "Sumi", upon the surface of a stone vessel called "Suzuri".


Production of ink sticks dates back to the 8th Century. Suzuka City and Nara City are both well known for the production of ink sticks. Most of the production of ink sticks is done by hand during the winter months between October and April in order for the animal glue, used as a binder, to harden well.

 

The temperature and relative humidity are therefore vital factors in the making of these sticks, which embodies the craftsmanship and heritage of traditional skills.