Kobaien Sumi Ink Stick Shop by Ichi Inc., Japan 日本Ichi公司 古梅园 墨条 古梅園 墨條

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.

Let customers speak for us

from 37 reviews

A very special brush

This is the second handmade brush I have had the pleasure of ordering from Ms Chiyomi Tanaka through Keitaro from Ichi inc., Japan.

Ms Chiyomi is one of the last few master brush makers in Nara, the spiritual home of the Japanese art of Shodo. I recommend watching the YouTube video interview of Ms Chiyomi and her brush-making process.

I find that with using a brush like this, the artwork carries the spirit of both me and the artist who made the brush, making it doubly special. I am very much looking forward to buying from Ichi inc. again!

Umar Ahmad

Saikouhou 2 ( Wool only ) 細光鋒 2 +

11/14/2025

Exactly what I wanted

Great customer service. The product arrived safely to England.
Will be ordering from them again.

Jude Reynolds

Hyakuraku inkstick ( 百楽 )

09/19/2024

Funagata inkstick ( bluish black, 舟形・正倉院 )

Excellent produit !

Ces encres sont extraordinaires ! Leurs qualités sont multiples: densité de teinte, variété des teintes, grande fluidité sitôt broyée et profondeur des tons très impressionnants! Après avoir longuement cherché des encres qui me conviennent, je recommande à 100%. Et la transaction avec la firme qui les fabrique n’a pas de défaut j’ai toujours été très satisfait de leur efficacité et de leur sérieux: très fiable en plus d’être très efficace.

Nicolas Pahlisch

Funagata inkstick ( bluish black, 舟形・正倉院 )

09/17/2024

★Kobaien Sumi Ink Stick Shop by Ichi Inc., Japan

01 Soot gathering

02 Dissolving gelatin ( glue)

03 Kneading

04 Molding

05 Ash drying

06 Drying

07 Polishing

08 Coloring

09 Interior view

10 Exterior view

Welcome to Kobaien inkstick online store

Art works by customers

News

Kobaien's Ryuun ink is back on sale again ( April 19, 2026 )

Kobaien's Ryuun ink is temporarily out of stock ( March 10, 2026 ) .

Margot Tohkou Olejniczak Presents "Paintings from the Heart" Sumi-e Exhibition in Tokyo, Japan

Discovering Art's Hidden Layers: An Essay by Israeli Artist Lilia Kostrov

Are you interested in purchasing aged ink sticks from Kobaien's inventory?

Resumption of Delivery. Product Delivery to the USA 2026.

Kobaien item category

New Arrivals Collection ( Feb, 2026 )

Koukaboku inksticks

Color inksticks, inkpads, papers

Bluish black inksticks

Brownish black inksticks

Other various color inksticks

Superb quality inksticks

Liquid inks

Inksticks for large works

Pine soot inkstick

Rare glue inksticks

Inksticks for beginner practice

Kobaien's year selection

Antique inksticks

Gold leaf inksticks

Unique shape inksticks

Commemorative inksticks

Uda Gami Washi ( traditional Japanese paper )

Handmade Echizen Washi paper by Heizaburo Iwano

Inkstones and brushes

Other Kobaien related goods

All items

Chiyomi Tanaka's Brushes

Chiyomi Tanaka's Brush category

Chiyomi Tanaka brushes - those can be shipped to the United States

Horse, horse blend and weasel brushes

Wool and wool blend brushes

Rare and unique brushes

Only one brush in stock

All brushes by Chiyomi Tanaka

Let customers speak for us

Let customers speak for us