Dojo Scroll

This scroll was made for a new dojo. It reads Seijoukan (Blue Castle Hall or training facility) It is completed in a Navy Silk cloth, with a light gold ichimonji featuring an ivy karakusa. The scroll also came with bamboo jikusaki, and was housed in a kiribako to go as the housing of this gift.

If you would like a commissioned piece, or have some artwork you would like mounted into a scroll, please contact sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com. You can also download my scroll design workbook at www.customjapanesecalligraphy.com 

Companionship of the Holy Ghost御霊を伴侶に

This calligraphy was written by my wife. As our world moves to more division and dissension, I felt this was a very appropriate piece of art to frame. One of the purposes of this mortal life that Heavenly Father gave to every one of his children, is the agency to choose. We are free to choose. What we decide in this life, shapes us every day. The entertainment we select, the food and drink we ingest, the people we associate with and their opinions and ideas, the clothing and adornment we select for our bodies, the work we engage in (or shirk) all affects us everyday. But just like our earthly parents, our Heavenly Father provides us with guidance to help us to make good choices. That guidance is through the Holy Ghost. But we must learn to recognize and allow the influence of this great power and gift to be a part of our life. These are some links to talks about how to recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost in our life.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/04/45nelson?lang=eng

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2018/04/his-spirit-to-be-with-you?lang=eng

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2017/04/let-the-holy-spirit-guide?lang=eng

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2017/04/how-does-the-holy-ghost-help-you?lang=eng

Now let me explain how I framed this calligraphy piece. In Japanese arts there is system of classifying aspects of the art based on Formality ranking. This calligraphy was written in the Gyousho （行書）style, which is semi-formal. This particular scroll style, called Fukuro Hyougu （袋表具）is an informal mounting style. Although, most religious themed artworks would be framed in a more formal style, I felt simplicity in the mounting would provide a more accurate, symbolic depiction of how the Holy Ghost communicates with the children of Heavenly Father. In the piece you see 3 lines of Suji (筋). I used these three lines to represent each separate member of the Godhead. 

1. The top in the Ten (天）or Heaven portion of the scroll is representative of our Heavenly Father. 
2. The first Suji in the Chi（地）or Earth  portion of the scroll represents the Savior, Jesus Christ, who came to this Earth to minister, teach, and fulfill Heavenly Father's Plan of Salvation for us all by fulfilling the Atonement becoming Resurrected. 
3. The second Suji in the Chi（地）or Earth  portion of the scroll represents the Holy Ghost, as he is omnipresent on this Earth, providing the power of our Heavenly Father to be present with us always.  

The three lines of suji are straight and narrow. That is the path that leads us back to Heavenly Father.

If you look close, there is also a suji that surrounds the entire calligraphy piece. Another title given to the Holy Ghost is the Comforter. During these troubling times of dissent, rebellion, economic uncertainty, health crisis; Remember that the Holy Ghost will surround you with a comfort, and peaceful surety of a better future.

The color of the cloth was selected to represent the etheral nature of the Holy Ghost, meaning it does not have a body of flesh and bone. It was also chosen to represent dark glass....(but that I will leave to you to study and ponder on your own.

Looking at this writing by my wife everyday, reminds me to strive to be worthy to have the Companionship of the Holy Ghost everyday in my life.

Customer Love Health Prosperity Wealth Kakejiku

This scroll is for a customer in California. It is written in Gyousho style by Yoshimi Yamada Maples (Ryugyoku). I used a light green cloth with a brown Ichimonji based on the customers home decor. If you would like a custom scroll made, please contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com 

To provide more opportunities for customers, we have developed a photo frame in a wall scroll format called Tapestry Frame. Visit us at www.tapestryframe.com to see more information about ordering this unique photo frame. 

Finally the Fuutai

The last post was of this scroll in the Sandan Hyougu style.
This is the scroll with the Fuutai in the Yamato Hyougu style.

Which mounting format do you prefer? Explain why...

Dragon Scroll in Sandan Hyougu

This scroll was done for an artist who lives on the East coast. I love the yellow of the Ginko leaves in this painting. When making each scroll, challenges arise. In this case, when the original Hada Urauchi (first layer of backing paper) was applied to the artwork, there was a large wrinkle. So I peeled it off and started anew. Also, there was some Uki (bubbling/floating) in the Ten/Chi cloth section that I had to fix. I hope he likes the color combination. This scroll is still not complete. I still need to do the fuutai, to make a Yamato Hyougu style scroll.

Just some thoughts on the design. I wanted to use golds that would complement and not compete with the warm colors of the yellow ginko leaves. I selected a gold cloth that has a very small detailed pattern, for the chuumawashi. In the photo it looks like it is almost solid gold, but it is not. For the ten and chi portion I wanted to use a lighter tan, almost cream color Shike style cloth, to help soften the strong golds in the Ichimonji and chuumawashi. Some people have complained that they do not know the perspective in size....so I took the picture below to give you a reference of the relative size of the scroll. It is completed with a machined, lacquered wood jikusaki, and the kodai san iro hanging string.

If you have any questions about kakejiku or wallscrolls, please contact to Jonathan Maples at sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com.

Mokumegane Wallscroll or Kakejiku

This scroll has the phrase Mokumegane. The definition of this word was taken from Wikipedia. 
Mokume-gane (木目金, Mokumegane) is a Japanese metalworking procedure which produces a mixed-metal laminate with distinctive layered patterns, as well as that laminate itself. Mokume gane translates closely to "wood grain metal" or "wood eye metal" and describes the way metal takes on the appearance of natural wood grain.^[1] Mokume gane fuses several layers of differently coloured precious metals together to form a sandwich of alloys called a "billet." The billet is then manipulated in such a way that a pattern resembling wood grain emerges over its surface. Numerous ways of working the mokume gane create diverse pattens. Once the metal has been rolled into a sheet or bar, several techniques are used to produce a range of effects.^[2]

Mokume-gane has been used to create many artistic objects. Though the technique was first developed for production of decorative sword fittings, the craft is today mostly used in the production of jewelry and hollowware.^[3]

I will not go into the personal details of the customer's reason for wanting this phrase on a scroll, but light (sky) blue has always been one of my favorite colors.

The writing for this scroll was brushed by my wife Yoshimi "Ryugyoku" Yamada. 

If you would like a custom scroll made, please contact to me at sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com.

Customer Orders Continued

I am still working on customer orders during the quarantine. Here is a beautiful dragon painting that was painted by an artist on the east coast area of the US. His work is so vibrant and detailed. I have also put a gold cloth and a very light cream color cloth on the drying board for this painting. I will continue working on this tomorrow and get it into stage 2a.

If you have any questions about scrollmaking or would like a scroll made, please contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com

Scroll Projects

This wallscroll is in stage 2a. This is Yoshimi's writing, and I think it is very appropriate for this time. It reads 御霊を伴侶に (Mitama wo Hanryo ni). I work full time, and my job requires me to go out in public. Some people say to me, that it is dangerous because of the corona virus (Covid-19). And although there is worry for many people, I feel quite peaceful at the moment. I believe it is because, I have the Holy Spirit as my Companion.

That is the meaning of this Japanese phrase. It reminds me of the scripture in the New Testament, John 14:27. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

If you will see, or ears to hear and comprehend, I will explain. I have made a covenant to remember and obey the Savior. I have chosen throughout my life to obey the commandments. Teachings of an inspired law of health have guided me to not ingest substances that are bad for my health, particularly my respiratory system. I have also tried to obey the positive counsel about eating wisely. Using vegetables and grains as the primary source of my diet. Exercising and watching my weight to keep my body and mind strong. I have made sacred promises, called covenants, with my wife, to live my life so that I can have the companionship of the Spirit of God with me....

That is why my heart is neither troubled nor afraid at this time and being about working among the public does not bother me. And if I contracted the virus, and died tomorrow, I would have no regrets about the life I have lived.

8x10 Photo Scroll with Cherry Blossom and Purple Silks

This scroll was made for an 8x10 size photograph. It has a beautiful middle cloth that is silk with a cherry blossom motif. The top is a darker purple shike silk. It is completed with plastic ivory jikusaki and a light purple hanging string.

If you would like to purchase this scroll for $50 please contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com

Visit our website at www.tapestryframe.com to find out more about how this type of photo frame works.

3x5 small Photo Kake with Brown and Gray Cloths

This is another small scroll to display 3.5"x 5" portrait format photos. Changing out the photos takes less than 1 minute. These are subtle cloths with brown in the middle and gray on the outside. Go to www.tapestryframe.com to learn more about this photo frame format.

This particular scroll is $25.00 including shipping and taxes to the US.

If you have questions about ordering please contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com

4x6 Landscape Format Photo Frame Scroll



This scroll is made for a 4x6 landscape format photograph. This is a picture of my children when they were young for Hina Matsuri. That is why my daughter is dressed up in a kimono. It is made with some beautiful cloths. The middle cloth is a benberugu cloth that is tan with horizontal stripes running through it. The Ten and chi is a light gray shike silk. It is completed with plastic jikusaki and a gray (nezumi iro) hanging string.


The photos are easily removable making these the perfect display piece for a wide variety of your photographs.


This particular piece is $45.00 which includes taxes and shipping in the US. If you would like to purchase it please contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com or phone to 801-214-4064

3 x 5 portrait photo frame Wallscrolls

 A pair of 3x5 photo frame kakejiku in a solid brown with a bright gold arabesque for the top and bottom cloths. This pair goes for $50.00 as a set or $35 individually. (Shipping and taxes are separate) Please contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com for inquiries to purchase.

View our website at www.tapestryframe.com to learn more about this framing format.

3x5 Photo Wallscroll Gray with Light Green

This is another scroll to hang pictures. It has a gray chuumawashi and a light green silk on the top and bottom. It holds a 3.5" x 5" portrait format photograph. This can be switched out quite easily. See the video in  a previous post showing how to remove the photograph and replace it with a different photograph. This specific scroll can be purchased for $30.00 and $10.00 shipping and handling. Please contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com  or contact me at 801-214-4064 to inquire about purchasing other scrolls.

Two 3 x 5 Photo Frame Wallscrolls

 These two wallscrolls that act as a picture frame are made with silks. These wallscrolls allow one to quickly and easily change photos. These particular scrolls hold portrait photos that are 3.5 inches wide by 5 inches long. This allows anyone to:
1. Quickly take the kakejiku or wallscroll off the wall and hang it in a new location.
2. Easily pack and transport the wallscroll to a new location if one relocates or moves.
3. Photos can be changed in less than a minute, providing the opportunity to put different pictures in the frame to help set a mood or ambiance to any room.

These particular scrolls were made without jikusaki, hence reducing the price from the typical $45.00 fee to a $30.00 fee. If one wishes to purchase both they would be $50.00. A $10.00 shipping and handling fee applies for both scrolls.

To place an order contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com or contact directly at 801-214-4064.

Video of How Photo Frame Wallscrolls Work

To purchase a unique handmade alternative photo frame from us please contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com You can also view this video on our website at www.tapestryframe.com to view as well.

Wallscroll with Interchangeable Photos

This is a wallscroll that allows you to quickly and easily change photos. This particular model is for a photo that is 3.5 inches wide by 5 inches long. This flexibility allows the owner to do the following:
1. Quickly take the Kakejiku or wallscroll off the wall and hang it in a new location.
2. Easily transport the scroll to a new location if one moves or relocates to a new home.
3. Photos can be changed in less than a minute, so you can display different pictures depending on the desired ambiance.

The price for this scroll is $45.00 including tax and shipping in the United States.

This particular scroll is 33.5 inches long by 6 inches wide. It is completed with two different silks. The middle cloth, called 中廻　chuumawashi is a gray cloth with a wave pattern in it. The 天・地 Ten/Chi is a solid light blue/green gray cloth. This scroll is finished with a plastic 軸先 jikusaki. If you would like to purchase this particular scroll for home interior decor, or an elegant unique photo frame gift, please contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com

You can also view my website at www.customjapanesecalligraphy.com or contact me by phone at the number listed on the website.

We can also make custom scrolls with different size photos, cloths and accent pieces like Jikusaki (end knobs) or kakehimo (hanging string). Please contact us for pricing.

Sanso #168 by Chikuto Summer Sumie

Nakabayashi Chikutō, originally Nariaki (Japanese:中林 竹洞; (1776, Nagoya - 27 April 1853, Kyoto) was a Japanese painter in the nanga style. His other art names include Chūtan (沖澹), Taigen’an (太原庵) and Tōzan Inshi (東山隠士).

This was the last in the prints of the original paintings of the Sanso collection put into a scroll. I mounted this in the Minchou Hyougu style. It is hard to see, but there is suji on the long vertical sides of the scroll.

If you would like to commission a calligraphy kakejiku from us please contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com You can also visit our website at www.customjapanesecalligraphy.com to find more information about our framing services.

Sanso #150 Blackbird on Persimmon Tree by Rosetsu

This is one of the final paintings of the Sanso Collection prints that I mounted into scrolls. This painting is also by Rosetsu. You can read more about him in the post preceding this post.

This scroll was made with a Benberugu cloth with a green check pattern. The check pattern is very small. It is also completed in the Minchou Hyougu style, as you can see the thin gold suji on the vertical borders of the scroll. There is also a border of Ichimonji on the topa and bottom of the artwork. The kakejiku was completed with the Kodai Iro hanging string, and wooden jikusaki lacquered with layers in Black and Orange. I used the color scheme to help blend and harmonize the color in the painting with the Jikusaki.

If you have a painting you would like mounted, please contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com

Sanso #100 by Rosetsu

These next posts will be the last of the scrolls done for the Sanso art collection. This is number 100 in the collection by Japanese artist Rosetsu. Click on the description below to read more about this artist on Wikipedia.

Nagasawa Rosetsu (長沢芦雪, 1754–1799) was an 18th-century (Edo period) Japanese painter of the Maruyama School, known for his versatile style. He was born to the family of a low-ranking samurai. He studied with Maruyama Ōkyo in Kyoto.^[2][3]

This particular scroll was made in the Yamato Hyougu style. Even though the Hashira are very thin, I do not consider this the Rinpou Hyougu style. It is completed with a gold kinran with accompanying fuutai, a blue ivy arabesque Chuumawashi, and a gold arabesque Ten/Chi. I had purchased over 10 years ago some wooden jikusaki that had a black and gold pattern attached on paper. I had never felt this fit for any of my scrolls, but when I saw this painting, I just knew the black and gold reminded me of the Otera in which this bell would reside.

If you have a painting that you would like mounted into a scroll, or would like us to do a calligraphy piece for you, please contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com

Kakejiku or Wallscroll for 8x10 photo

This is a shikishi kake style scroll that can hold an 8x10 picture. Displaying the photo or print in this way allows you to easily remove and replace with other photos. This can be done in less than a minute. If you want an alternative method of hanging and displaying photos or artwork, consider using this wallscroll.

If you would like to purchase this scroll it is $65.00.

It is a one of a kind scroll, because I was only able to procure 1 meter of this purple cloth from Japan. The middle cloth is a purple silk with a small flower arabesque pattern. The light gold on the top and bottom cloths complements the color. It is completed with a plastic ivory kakejiku and Kodai san iro hanging string.

If you would like a different color combination please view my webstore or contact to me at sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com