★Kobaien Sumi Ink Stick Shop by Ichi Inc., Japan
Kobaien Inkstick making Online Tour
01 Soot gathering
Kobaien artisans pour pure vegetable oil into earthenware with a cover. It has a wick made from rush in it then put on fire. They collect the soot that forms on the inside of the seat. They have to tum a round the earthenware every 20 minutes not to unbalance the soot.
Kobaien Inkstick making Online Tour
02 Dissolving gelatin ( glue)
They put fine natural gelatin gradually dissolve it in 70℃ hot water in copper pot called Tampo which is 30cm deep.
Kobaien Inkstick making Online Tour
03 Kneading
Then Kobaien artisans carefully mix the main ingredients, soot and gelatin, in a ratio of 100 to 60. When it begins to shine black, some fragrances are added. Kneading is also very important process in determining the quality of an inkstick.
Kobaien Inkstick making Online Tour
04 Molding
The artisans place a well-kneaded sumi ink dough into a mold made of pear trees, on which the designs or characters of the inksticks are engraved. About 25g of sumi ink dough is put into a wooden mold to make a 15g block of sumi inkstick. This is because the ink dough shrinks as it dries.
Kobaien Inkstick making Online Tour
05 Ash drying
On the first day, the sumi inksticks are taken out of the wooden mold and placed in damp ashes. After the second day, the artisans gradually replace the ashes with less moist ones day by day to dehydrate the sumi inksticks. This process takes about a week for a small piece and about 30 to 40 days for a large piece.
Kobaien Inkstick making Online Tour
06 Drying
After the ash drying process, about 70% of the moisture has been removed from the sumi inksticks. They are then hung on straw and dried in-house. This process usually takes one to six months.
Kobaien Inkstick making Online Tour
07 Polishing
Now the artisans carefully remove any ash or dust from the inksticks. For some inksticks, they create a glaze layer by applying a glaze to the surface of an inkstick body and firing it, then polishing the surface with a bowl to make it shiny.
Kobaien Inkstick making Online Tour
08 Coloring
The surfaces of some inksticks are painted with gold powder, silver powder and pigment. This process makes the uniquely shaped pattern of sumi appear bright and sharp.
Kobaien Inkstick making Online Tour
09 Interior view
This is the interior of Kobaien's main store in Nara, Japan.
Kobaien Inkstick making Online Tour
10 Exterior view
This is the exterior of Kobaien's main store in Nara, Japan.
Welcome to Kobaien inkstick online store
We, ICHI Inc. Japan🇯🇵, are the authorized Japanese agency and distributor of Kobaien inksticks for the international market since 2015.
News
★New★Yoshino-ceder Narafude brush (The brush of peace and joy made of Yoshino ceder tree ) 吉野杉寧楽筆
January 11, 2025
★New★Yoshino-ceder Narafude brush (The brush of peace and joy made of Yoshino ceder tree ) 吉野杉寧楽筆
★New★ We have started selling Akashiya's brush with paint sets!
December 14, 2024
★New★ We have started selling Akashiya's brush with paint sets!
★New★ We have started selling Uda Gami Washi ( traditional Japanese paper ).
December 12, 2024
★New★ We have started selling Uda Gami Washi ( traditional Japanese paper ).
We were finally able to put together the materials for the Bokufu (a special set of Kobaien inksticks) using the materials we received from Kobaien.
November 15, 2024
We were finally able to put together the materials for the Bokufu (a special set of Kobaien inksticks) using the materials we received from Kobaien.
We are starting a service to issue free certificate of manufacture for the products you purchase from this online store.
November 2, 2024
We are starting a service to issue free certificate of manufacture for the products you purchase from this online store.
The first new inkstick in 25 years! Toukaen Paulownia oil inkstick ( Red-Purplish black 桐華煙 )
October 27, 2024
The first new inkstick in 25 years! Toukaen Paulownia oil inkstick ( Red-Purplish black 桐華煙 )
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