Traditional Japanese calligraphy ink, referred to as sumi ink ... and even longer for the most expensive ones. A 200-gram high-grade ink stick from a producer like Kobaien costs over $1,000.

Top-of-the-line brushes can cost $1,000, and quality ink sticks can reach multiple ... master craftsmen worry about the future of traditional calligraphy tools, younger calligraphers swear by ...

In addition the modern calligraphy utilizes not only the traditional black ink, but may include a variety of colors normally seen in western painting. Instead of using the "Modern Calligraphy" some ...