Japanese Heritage

Tradition to be passed down from generation to generation

Japanese Sumi Ink

By Kinkoen

Tracing back to the 6th generation, Kinkoen was founded in Nara prefecture by the ancestor of the current master artisan, Nagano-san, now working together with his son. They have been making Sumi ink with the traditional method passed down from generation to generation.

Amazed by the sophisticated scent of the ink that comes drifting in the air thanks to the Ryu-noh (borneol) resin and the calming effect on the mind through repetitive hand movement during the Sumi preparation by rubbing the Sumi ink on a Suzuri stone. This is a pure Zen meditation, practiced over centuries in Japan.

The time-consuming whole-making process of Sumi ink takes 4 months to even a few years - it starts with burning oil lamps to collect soot which is later blended with gelatin and Ryu-noh (borneol) resin, kneaded together, molded in a kashi-gata and let dry afterward.

Ryu-noh (borneol) is a precious crystallized resin used in Eastern medicine as well as in Japanese incense, this natural material is sourced from the Borneo camphor tree.