Never Forget Your Beginning

In Japanese there is a proverb read 初心を忘れるべからず, (shoshin wo wasureru bekarazu) which reminds one to never forget the spirit and gumption they had when embarking on learning a new skill, career etc. This is for a Martial Artist who is giving to a student that achieved the dan ranking. We wrote slightly differently to have all characters, but the meaning is essentially the same.

This was a reminder to me that in my Hyousou arts, I should rekindle that inner spark.

If you would like a custom scroll for a gift, please email to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com 

Dojo Wallscroll

This was a scroll for a martial arts dojo on the East Coast. It had some difficulties in that the black cloth that was used, did not turn out alright. So I redid it with a different black cloth and the same result occurred. I was so frustrated that I ended up doing it on a gray cloth that I know would work.

The scroll reads Musha Shugyou Satori (Enlightenment through Martial Arts Training)

It is written in Sousho, semi cursive style by Yoshimi Ryugyoku Yamada. It has a Gold on Red karakusa Ichimonji, Kon (navy) Hanging string, and Shitan (rosewood) Jikusaki.

Dimensions of the scroll as follows:

Name in Kanji	Name in English	Size in Bun	Size in Inches
天	Ten	95	11.33
上一文字	Ue Ichimonji	11	1.31
紙本の幅さ	Artwork Width	110	13.12
紙本の長さ	Artwork Length	449	53.56
柱	Pillars	17	2.03
下一文字	Shita Ichimonji	7	0.84
地	Chi	45	5.37
掛け軸の幅さ	Scroll Width	144	17.18
掛け軸の長さ	Scroll Length	607	72.41

Another Iaido Scroll

This was another scroll for a martial art studio back East. It reads Iaido in Semi Cursive Script. It was brushed by Yoshimi "Ryugyoku" Maples. I chose the blue cloth for this to go with the gold on blue ichimonji. It is finished with an ivory plastic jikusaki and a navy hanging string.

This is somber, but it is relaxing on the eye.

Measurements will be given later.

Jujitsu Scroll

This is the Jujitsu scroll, made in a batch for the same customer in central US. It has a gold on white karakusa, with a gold/khaki cloth that has a pattern. It is finished with a gold hanging string and a plastic jikusaki.

If you would like a custom scroll made for yourself, please contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com or go directly to my shopping site at www.shop.customjapanesecalligraphy.com

Aikidou Doujo Wallscroll

This was on the same order to a martial arts studio in the central US. It reads Aikidou. I used a purple ichimonji, with a wine color silk. It is finished with a purple and gold hanging string to match the Ichimonji. All of these were finished with the ivory plastic jikusaki.

To custom order your own kakejiku go to www.shop.customjapanesecalligraphy.com or email to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com

Dimensions will be provided later, but these are all small scrolls:

Small Iaido Wallscroll or Kakejiku

A dojo back east ordered 8 Small scrolls on a special promotion. This is the first in the series. It is an Iaidou scroll written in the Gyousho (Semi-cursive) style. If you would like to order a custom handmade wallscroll, contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com or go directly to my shopping site at www.shop.customjapanesecalligraphy.com

It has a small gold Karakusa on a Green cloth. The Ichimonji bordering the work is a large karakusa or green and gold on brown. The hanging string is a Ugui or green color. It is completed with ivory, plastic jikusaki.

Dimensions as follows:

Name in Kanji	Name in English	Size in Bun	Size in Inches
天	Ten	96	11.45
上一文字	Ue Ichimonji	11	1.31
紙本の幅さ	Artwork Width	38	4.53
紙本の長さ	Artwork Length	108	12.88
柱	Pillars	7	0.84
下一文字	Shita Ichimonji	7	0.84
地	Chi	57	6.80
掛け軸の幅さ	Scroll Width	52	6.20
掛け軸の長さ	Scroll Length	279	33.28

Bujinkan Ninjutsu Wallscroll

This kakejiku or wallscroll was commissioned for a practitioner
of Ninjutsu. He wanted a simple style scroll, but was concerned about the quality of the calligraphy. My wife works really hard to try and get all characters evenly spaced and balanced and I think this one was well written in the Gyousho style.

The scroll is in a navy silk, with gold on gold karakusa for the ichimonji. The jikusaki are Ivory plastic in the 9 bun size. I used the larger size because this customer also purchased the fuchin on the bottom, which are ceramic pieces to weight the scroll. Dimensions as follows:

Name in Kanji	Name in English	Size in Bun	Size in Inches
天	Ten	115	13.72
上一文字	Ue Ichimonji	7	0.84
紙本の幅さ	Artwork Width	53	6.32
紙本の長さ	Artwork Length	220	26.24
柱	Pillars	18	2.15
下一文字	Shita Ichimonji	4	0.48
地	Chi	70	8.35
掛け軸の幅さ	Scroll Width	89	10.62
掛け軸の長さ	Scroll Length	416	49.63

Bushido and Seven Virtues

This scroll was commissioned to the South East for a martial artist. It is written in the kaisho (block print) style and has Bushido and then the seven virtues on the left hand side. The customer selected a very beautiful cloth that goes well with this writing. The Ichimonji is also a very beautiful kinran.

Dimensions:

Name in Kanji	Name in English	Size in Bun	Size in Inches
天	Ten	117	13.96
上一文字	Ue Ichimonji	12	1.43
紙本の幅さ	Artwork Width	112	13.36
紙本の長さ	Artwork Length	430	51.30
柱	Pillars	20	2.39
下一文字	Shita Ichimonji	9	1.07
地	Chi	75	8.95
掛け軸の幅さ	Scroll Width	152	18.13
掛け軸の長さ	Scroll Length	643	76.70

Kunshi no Ken Martial Arts Kakejiku

This scroll was sold to a return customer from Europe. If you would like to have a custom scroll made for you contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com

I love this phrase. It reads 君子の拳 Kunshi no Ken or the law of a virtuous man. It is written by Yoshimi Yamada Maples (Ryugyoku) in the Semi-cursive (Gyousho) style. The scrolls is completed in a sea green kireji donsu with karakusa. The jikusaki is Shitan or Rosewood and the kakehimo is Kinka, light green with a gold pattern.

Dimensions as follows:

Name in Kanji	Name in English	Size in Bun	Size in Inches
天	Ten	118	14.08
上一文字	Ue Ichimonji	7	0.84
紙本の幅さ	Artwork Width	78	9.30
紙本の長さ	Artwork Length	106	12.64
柱	Pillars	20	2.39
下一文字	Shita Ichimonji	5	0.60
地	Chi	75	8.95
掛け軸の幅さ	Scroll Width	118	14.08
掛け軸の長さ	Scroll Length	311	37.10

 

 

 

Never Surrender Kakejiku

This scroll is going to Canada. It has a family crest assigned to this individual by Japan. The writing says Kuppuku Suru Bekarazu. Never surrender is the meaning of the phrase.

This was drawn and written by Natsuko Horinouchi. It is hard to see, but the cloth has white raised interwoven lines over the grey. It is very beautiful. The Ginran has a silver on green. The hanging string is Takuboku (white with green and black fleck) and the jikusaki is made of ivory plastic.

It is a very beautiful scroll.

Dimensions:

Name in Kanji	Name in English	Size in Bun	Size in Inches
天	Ten	135	16.10
上一文字	Ue Ichimonji	11	1.31
紙本の幅さ	Artwork Width	64	7.63
紙本の長さ	Artwork Length	212	25.29
柱	Pillars	18	2.15
下一文字	Shita Ichimonji	7	0.84
地	Chi	85	10.14
掛け軸の幅さ	Scroll Width	100	11.93
掛け軸の長さ	Scroll Length	450	53.68

Yuujin (Friend)

I made this scroll for a martial artist that was providing gifts for those who helped train with him through his dan testing. It reads 友人 which means friend. This is not written by Yoshimi Yamada Maples, but artist Natsuko Horinouchi, based in Germany.

The color of the cloth is bone white with a deep gold on gold Ichimonji with a small karakusa (arabesque). The scroll is completed with an ivory plastic jikusaki and a light gold (usukincha) hanging string.

Dimensions:

Name in Kanji	Name in English	Size in Bun	Size in Inches
天	Ten	118	14.08
上一文字	Ue Ichimonji	8	0.95
紙本の幅さ	Artwork Width	75	8.95
紙本の長さ	Artwork Length	106	12.64
柱	Pillars	20	2.39
下一文字	Shita Ichimonji	4	0.48
地	Chi	77	9.19
掛け軸の幅さ	Scroll Width	115	13.72
掛け軸の長さ	Scroll Length	313	37.34

摩周道場 Mashu Dojo Kakejiku

This scroll was commissioned as a gift to a Dojo called the Mashu Dojo. At first I thought it had reference to a Koryu system based in the Satsuma region of Japan, but it actually is in reference to a lake in Hokkaido, which you can read about at this link.

It is written in the gyousho semi-cursive style by Yoshimi Yamada Maples (Ryugoku). The scroll is unique in that the reference is to a lake, I inserted fish into the Ichimonji to add to the meaning. It is completed with a Rosewood (紫檀) Jikusaki and the Kogecha, Navy Hanging string.

Dimensions as follows:

Name in Kanji	Name in English	Size in Bun	Size in Inches
天	Ten	110	13.12
上一文字	Ue Ichimonji	17.5	2.09
紙本の幅さ	Artwork Width	54	6.44
紙本の長さ	Artwork Length	218	26.01
柱	Pillars	25	2.98
下一文字	Shita Ichimonji	13	1.55
地	Chi	80	9.54
掛け軸の幅さ	Scroll Width	104	12.41
掛け軸の長さ	Scroll Length	438.5	52.31

Jiko Ryu Karate Wallscroll

This custom scroll will be going to the United Kingdom. It turned out very nicely. I especially love the deep gold on gold Ichimonji of this scroll. It provides a mellow, yet distinct and royal contrast. It has a beautiful and simple navy silk cloth with plastic ivory jikusaki and a Gold Brown Hanging String.  The writing is in a Kaisho style written by Yoshimi Maples. (Ryugyoku) If you are interested in having a custom scroll designed and made for you please contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com Dimensions of the scroll below.          Name in Kanji Name in English Size in Bun (Inches)

天 Ten 86 (10.26)

上一文字 Ue Ichimonji 8 (0.95)

紙本の幅さ Artwork Width 54 (6.44)

紙本の長さ Artwork Length 218 (26.01)

柱 Pillars 18 (2.15)

下一文字 Shita Ichimonji 5 (0.60)

地 Chi 58 (6.92)

掛け軸の幅さ Scroll Width 90 (10.74)

掛け軸の長さ Scroll Length 375 (44.73)

Kakejiku - The Way of Inner Strength

If you would like to commission your own Martial Arts Scroll, please contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com

These three scrolls were commissioned as gifts. It reads "Seishin Ryoku Dou". The Karateka purchasing the scrolls wanted the phrase "Way of Inner Strength" translated into Japanese. We went through several iterations, until Yoshimi decided upon using Seishin 精神, which can mean Spirit, Soul, Mind, Heart, or Intention. Those words embody everything that is internal and spiritual. The Ryoku 力 is Strength, and many people are familiar with Dou 道 as "The Way".

The writing is done in a beautiful gyousho semi-cursive style, and each one is unique because they are slightly different. The cloth selected by the customer has a beautiful large blue pattern on a gold/brown background.

The scrolls are not exactly uniform in size or length, because they are being given as gifts, and so will hang in separate locations. Had they been hung together like the panther and dragon scrolls, I would have measured more precisely. Approximate dimensions listed below:
Dimensions


Name in Kanji Name in English Size Bun (Inches)

天 Ten 100 (11.93)

上一文字 Ue Ichimonji 10 (1.19)

紙本の幅さ Artwork Width 53 (6.32)

紙本の長さ Artwork Length 217 (25.89)

柱 Pillars 12 (1.43)

下一文字 Shita Ichimonji 6 (0.72)

地 Chi 65 (7.75)

掛け軸の幅さ Scroll Width 77 (9.19)

掛け軸の長さ Scroll Length 398 (47.48)

菊松道場 Kiku Matsu Dojo Hanging Wall Scroll

This customer ordered with a tight deadline and I was really worried whether it would be ready or not...but the scroll was just shipped this afternoon. This is a long thin scroll, with the Name of the Dojo in Gyousho or Semi-cursive style Japanese Calligraphy. I think the cloth is beautiful, and that is why I took a closeup of the cloth. It is styled with a deep gold on gold karakusa Ichimonji that transitions well into the green kireji. It is completed with a black lacquer wood jikusaki and a Takuboku design kake/makihimo.

Dimensions as follows:
Name in Kanji Name in English Size in Bun Size in Inches


天 Ten 115 13.72

上一文字 Ue Ichimonji 11 1.31

紙本の幅さ Artwork Width 54 6.44

紙本の長さ Artwork Length 218 26.01

柱 Pillars 16.5 1.97

下一文字 Shita Ichimonji 7 0.84

地 Chi 75 8.95

掛け軸の幅さ Scroll Width 87 10.38

掛け軸の長さ Scroll Length 426 50.82

 

Banzenkan New Dojo Scroll

This custom designed handmade wallscroll went to the Seattle Tacoma area for a new dojo that is opening it's doors. If you would like to order a custom scroll there are three ways to get started: 1. Go to my shopping site at www.shop.customjapanesecalligraphy.com 2. Download my scroll design workbook from my website at www.customjapanesecalligraphy.com to read about the concepts behind kakejiku or wallscroll design. 3. E-mail to me directly at sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com  Banzenkan is written in Gyousho style. Banzen means perfection or flawlessness and kan is a meeting place or hall. Kouminkan is a public hall or gathering place. I used a dark gold Ichimonji with a karakusa pattern to make the dark brown cloth stand out. The scroll is completed with plastic Jikusaki and a dark gold Kakehimo. Hopefully the students will adhere to the dictum of the statement and try to attain perfection in their Martial Arts studies in this study hall. Scroll dimensions are given in Bun, and inches below.

Writing was done by Ryugyoku, "Yoshimi Yamada Maples".

Name in Kanji	Name in English	Size in Bun	Size in Inches
天	Ten	107	12.76
上一文字	Ue Ichimonji	7.5	0.89
紙本の幅さ	Artwork Width	46	5.49
紙本の長さ	Artwork Length	107	12.76
柱	Pillars	24	2.86
下一文字	Shita Ichimonji	5	0.60
地	Chi	65	7.75
掛け軸の幅さ	Scroll Width	94	11.21
掛け軸の長さ	Scroll Length	291.5	34.77

Karate Scroll - Ichinen 一念

This scroll is going to Europe. It was purchased as a gift from one Matial Artist to another.

 If you would like to order a custom scroll there are three ways to get started: 1. Go to my shopping site at www.shop.customjapanesecalligraphy.com 2. Download my scroll design workbook from my website at www.customjapanesecalligraphy.com to read about the concepts behind kakejiku or wallscroll design. 3. E-mail to me directly at sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com
 
The phrase Ichinen can mean one thought or determined purpose. Possibly used as motivation to continue intense training in spite of pain or discomfort.

This particular scroll is written in the Full Cursive style called Sousho, by Yoshimi Yamada Maples, whose Natori calligraphy name assigned by her Sensei is Ryugyoku.

The cloth is a silk imported from Japan that has a very slight ivy pattern in it. Because of the small pattern, I used a larger Karakusa (arabesque) pattern with the gold on cream ichimonji.

Dimensions of the kakejiku in Bun (traditional Japanese measurement), Millimeters and then Inches.
Name in Kanji Name in English Size in Bun Size in Millimeters Size in Inches


天 Ten 118 / 357.54 / 14.08

上一文字 Ue Ichimonji 8 / 24.24 / 0.95

紙本の幅さ Artwork Width 77 / 233.31 / 9.19

紙本の長さ Artwork Length 106 / 321.18 / 12.64

柱 Pillars 23 / 69.69 / 2.74

下一文字 Shita Ichimonji 4 / 12.12 / 0.48

地 Chi 78 / 236.34 / 9.30

掛け軸の幅さ Scroll Width 123 / 372.69 / 14.67

掛け軸の長さ Scroll Length 314 951.42 37.46