Shodo Daisuki Episode 14

Shodo Daisuki Episode 14

Shodo Daisuki Episode 14
Write on Wood Without Blurring!

Shodo Daisuki – Episode 14

If you watch this, writing on wood won’t be scary anymore! “Shimauchi” from Shodo Daisuki explains everything from comparing ink types to introducing items that prevent bleeding on wood.

Shodo Daisuki Episode 14 — Video Overview

This is a video content piece by Shimauchi about calligraphy.
In this video, he performs experiments and explanations on how to write characters on wood.
Shimauchi compares three types of ink (super-concentrated bottled ink, ink designed specifically for writing on wood, and ink ground from an ink stick into super-concentrated liquid) by writing on wood and evaluating their characteristics.

The results showed that the super-concentrated ink ground from an ink stick performed the best—producing no bleeding, maintaining a three-dimensional texture, and offering long-term preservation.

He also introduces a surface preparation method using “tonoko” (an ultra-fine powder) rubbed into the wood grain, which improves brush movement and makes writing easier.
Finally, Shimauchi demonstrates writing on a paulownia wood box (kiribako) and advises that using the brush tip when writing on tonoko-treated wood results in beautiful characters.

Shimauchi notes that while ink formulated specifically for wood is convenient, it contains chemicals, so he recommends natural ink liquid made by grinding a solid ink stick.
This video aims to provide helpful information for anyone writing characters on wooden nameplates, signs, or paulownia boxes.

Sutra Copying Set

Introduction to the Appeal of Calligraphy and the “Writing on Wood” Challenge Series

00:00:00

Shimauchi talks about the appeal of calligraphy and introduces his challenge series on “writing on wood.”
He mentions that many people struggle when writing on wood and explains that this video will provide solutions.

Ink Selection Experiments for Writing on Wood

00:01:11

Shimauchi prepares three types of ink (super-concentrated bottled ink, special ink for wood, and super-concentrated ink ground from a stick) to determine which is best for writing on wood.
He explains that wood has a rough surface and vertical grain, meaning watery inks are likely to bleed.

Results of the Ink Comparison Experiment

00:02:11

Shimauchi writes the character “一 (one)” on wood using the three inks and compares the results.
The super-concentrated bottled ink offered smooth movement but still bled along the wood grain.
The ink designed for wood produced a deep black color but also showed some bleeding.
In contrast, the super-concentrated ink ground from a stick did not bleed, had a three-dimensional texture, and offered durability comparable to ink found on 7th-century wooden tablets.

Surface Treatment Experiment: The Effect of Tonoko

00:04:38

Shimauchi tests “tonoko,” an ultra-fine powder, to smooth the uneven wood surface.
He applies tonoko to the upper half of a wooden board and compares it to the untreated lower half. The tonoko color can be chosen to match the wood; in this experiment, he uses yellow tonoko.

Verification of Tonoko Treatment Effects

00:06:53

When writing with super-concentrated ground ink, the tonoko-treated area clearly offered smoother brush movement and dried faster.
However, even the untreated section did not bleed—showing again the excellent performance of the ground ink.

Demonstration on a Paulownia Box and Writing Tips

00:07:32

Shimauchi demonstrates writing on a paulownia (kiri) box treated with tonoko.
He notes that while brush movement is smoother thanks to the tonoko, writing as usual makes the strokes too thick, so he recommends writing with the brush tip to create visually pleasing characters.

Summary and Future Outlook

00:09:00

Shimauchi summarizes the comparison of the three inks and concludes that although ink designed for wood is convenient, it contains chemicals. He recommends natural ink liquid made from grinding an ink stick.
He hopes this video will help viewers write confidently on nameplates, signs, and paulownia boxes, and promises more useful, experimental content in the future.

YouTube — Shodo Daisuki Episode 14

 

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