Indispensable Craftsmanship for Producing Traditional Nara Sumi Inksticks; Going from Doughy Soot to Beautiful Ink

NARA — Sumi ink, introduced to Japan from the Korean peninsula during the Asuka period (592-710), is indispensable for the copying of sutras and studying in general. The process of producing inksticks flourished in Nara, where there are many temples and shrines.