Library
Explore the art, tradition, and craft of Japanese calligraphy through articles, interviews, and educational resources by Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase.
Articles
"Seishintouitsu: Concentration of Mind" — Master Calligrapher Eri Takase explores seishintouitsu as a common theme in Japanese Calligraphy, Martial Arts, and the Tea Ceremony
The Diplomas of Ryoma Elementary School — Sixth graders in Yoshino, Japan create handmade graduation diplomas from scratch, guided by National Living Treasure papermaker Hiroyuki Fukunishi
Hiroyuki Fukunishi, Japanese Papermaker — A visit with National Living Treasure papermaker Hiroyuki Fukunishi in the papermaking village of Yoshino, Japan
Traditional Japanese Calligraphy — An introduction to Japanese national calligraphy competitions, featuring three award-winning works by Master Calligrapher Eri Takase
Interviews
Anime Reign Interview — Master Calligrapher Eri Takase discusses her journey from childhood training through national competitions to contemporary art, and creating a secret ninjutsu makimono
California Reiki Interview of Master Takase — Master Calligrapher Eri Takase discusses the art and energy of Japanese calligraphy — hara, ki, mushin, and the physical and spiritual experience of creating large competition pieces
Photoshop Magazine Interview — Master Calligrapher Eri Takase discusses her art, process, and the role of technology in Japanese calligraphy for the Turkish edition of Photoshop Magazine
Reference
How Kanji Are Chosen for Your Name — The dictionary foundation, matching system, and artistic judgment behind every kanji name design — how we find the right characters and why you can trust the result.
How to Write Names in Hiragana — Writing foreign names in hiragana — the flowing Japanese script that gives names a softer, more Japanese aesthetic, with details on how hiragana differs from katakana for name designs.
How to Write Names in Japanese — The four ways to translate names to Japanese — phonetic katakana, phonetic hiragana, phonetic kanji (ateji), and literal kanji — with detailed examples by Master Calligrapher Eri Takase.
How to Write Names in Kanji — Writing names in Japanese kanji — two methods, phonetic (ateji) and literal translation, with guidance on when each works best and detailed examples by Master Calligrapher Eri Takase.
How to Write Names in Katakana — The standard way to write foreign names in Japanese — how katakana works, how sounds adapt, extended characters for non-Japanese sounds, and what to expect from your katakana design.
How We Pronounce Your Name — How we determine the correct pronunciation for names from dozens of languages — the dictionaries, the challenges, and why getting it right matters for Japanese calligraphy.
What Your Name Means — How we research name meanings — 19 scholarly sources, thousands of etymologies verified across multiple authorities, and what it means for your Japanese calligraphy design.
Where Your Name Translations Come From — The seven data sources, four pronunciation dictionaries, and exhaustive verification behind every name translation on this site — 157,000 names and growing.
Resources
Frequently Asked Questions — Common questions about the Japanese writing system, including hiragana, katakana, and kanji
Glossary of Japanese Calligraphy Terms — Definitions of essential terms in Japanese calligraphy including script styles, materials, and ranking
Learn Japanese Calligraphy — Learn Japanese calligraphy with Master Calligrapher Eri Takase. A structured course covering tools, technique, and the basic strokes of the kaisho script.
Name Resources — The reference works, databases, pronunciation tools, and academic research behind every name on this site.
Takase Studios Custom Design Process — How Master Calligrapher Eri Takase works with clients to create custom Japanese calligraphy designs, from concept to final art