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[Comadrin]

Before I started reading this manga, I always thought of calligraphy in terms of "Gee, nice handwriting." I've always been into Japanese art, like Hiroshige, Shin Hanga, and Sumi-e, but never knew much about calligraphy. I should have learned more from a friend of mine, who had a gallery in San Francisco. He was a Sumi-e artist, and once told me that for his first five years in art school, he was only allowed to write characters and couldn't draw pictures. He would have been a perfect person to learn about calligraphy from. Unfortunately, he started going blind, and returned to Japan. I was left with about twelve paintings I bought and the knowledge that I could have learned a great deal more from him.

Luckily, I live within about 20 miles from a Mitsuwa Marketplace store, and have been able to look through their book selection and find some very good books on calligraphy. I have discovered a lot of interesting writings and facts like Miyamoto Musashi being a famous calligrapher as well as swordsman and author. It's a fascinating world, only now becoming readily available here in the US.

I also discovered a great website devoted to calligraphy for anyone interested, at www.beyondcalligraphy.com. It has a great deal of fascinating information for anyone who is interested.

Thank you Kawaii Katsutoshi for introducing me to calligraphy and to Hobo-1 for translating it.

Edited by Comadrin, 18 September 2012 - 08:18 AM.