The Sumi ink that is one of representative Japanese cultures became today's style in Toh era(610). In those days, because the cultural exchange became actively among China, Korea and Japan, the ink were introduced to Japan from China that has more than four-thousand years history.

The history and the culture of China and Japan was passed on now with Sumi ink. The vivid color of the ink that remains in books over one thousand years is seen, it can't help feeling admiration for the length of the ink's life. With it accomplishes the mission as a wrinting implement, ink color itself takes very important role in the calligraphic art. They said, "The ink is not just black. It has seven colors deep inside of it. Lustrous purple comes first, and black is next, lustrous blue is going to appear afterwards. All of the colors are appreciated with quiet gloss, and also it's good that having pure scent and soundless while making ink.

The ink is made with carbon black, Nikawa and perfumery. Carbon black (soot) is for color, Nikawa does working to be stabilaized of the carbon black written in paper, the perfumery eliminates odors and tranquilizes people's mind.

Rubbing an ink stick (to make the ink) settles down the mind.

Why? Because the elements of tranqilizeris included in ink's perfumery. In Japan, the origin of it has spread in ancient times to Europe, there are many people who are enjoying aroma therapy letely.

Is ink black? The ink world is truly profound. Though it will be looked like the same black at first sight, in fact, the color like brown and blue is included in that. It becomes easy to distinguish the color when it is written with light ink. A blue Sumi ink came to be said from the thing that "Shoenboku"(the ink made with pine tree chips) wore depth and becomes like blue when time passed so.

However, there seem to be a lot of intentionally mixing indigo recently. A brown Sumi ink is made by being burnt in high temperature. Moreover, the reason that the Sumi ink right after the rub is good is "Brownian motion." The Particle of the Sumi ink evenly dissolves in water by the minus electricity that is generated when the Sumi ink rubs, therefore, it becomes beautiful ink color.