Japanese calligraphy, also known as shodo, is the art of writing by hand to create letters or symbols using a brush dipped in ink. It's a beautiful art form as well as a means of communication. The ability to do calligraphy is a skill passed from one generation to the next, and it requires a lot of training. 

In shodo, the emphasis is on the beauty and balance of the writing. Flowing brush strokes are important, just as they are in painting. True Japanese calligraphy is done with a bamboo brush and sumi ink. Sumi ink is made from the soot of pine trees or other vegetable sources. Materials are mixed together to produce a substance with a velvet texture and deep color. Traditionally, the substance is then dried and made into thin sticks. When an artist wants to use the ink, they rub it against a stone that has a smooth, flat surface. The process creates a fine powder to which they add water and mix well. The resulting ink is a deep jet black.