Is this inkstick suitable for calligraphy, sumi-e painting, or both?

Most of our inksticks can be used for both calligraphy and sumi-e, though some suit one better than the other.

Oil-soot ink (yuenboku) produces a warm, slightly brown-black, while pine-soot ink (shouenboku) produces a cooler, slightly blue-black — the latter is especially popular in sumi-e for the way its tone shifts when diluted to different strengths.

For calligraphy, where a strong, even line is usually preferred, an oil-soot ink with well-balanced glue content is a dependable choice.

Please check each product page for our specific recommendation, or feel free to ask.

🔗Koukaboku (a popular, representative oil-soot inkstick)

🔗Shouenboku ( pine-soot inkstick )