In Japan, Shodo is developed and appreciated since the 5th century and it is one of the oldest and most profound traditional art forms. In Japan, SHODO is not only a highly regarded art form bit also both skill and anesthetic. Calligraphy's world has its long rich history which went through many possible calligraphic styles and expressions during it’s over 3000 year's existence. Essentially with an inner silence/stillness and spiritual concentration, the depth of beauty in SHODO is the result of diverse techniques being accompanied by a flow of brush and ink. Basically, "SHODO" is a Japanese word that is often translated and described as "the way of artistic handwriting or beautiful writing".

With 2 kanji characters it is written: SHO- to write, writing and DO: the path, the way of the TAO. This ancient art is separated from any other creative work. Simplicity, beauty, and most importantly a mind-body connection is its main focuses. By applying the elements of art, line, shape, and space Shodo's true calligraphy is achieved. A lot of practice and connection with your inner self is required for the real mastery of all these elements of art and skill. Most of the Japanese use pencils, ballpoints, or felt-tip pens to write letters and other documents these days. But the art of shodo (calligraphy), where an ink-dipped brush is used artistically to create Chinese kanji and Japanese kana characters. It remains a traditional part of Japan's culture. Calligraphy's works are admired for the accurate composition of their characters, of course, but also for the way the brush is handled in their creation, the shading of the ink, and the balanced placement of the characters on the paper.

Students learn the basics of calligraphy in penmanship classes, beginning in elementary school. To improve their calligraphy, Students practice their penmanship sometimes copying out works by famous calligraphers from the past. Some elementary and middle school students attending classes in the evenings and on the weekends to become able to write beautiful characters, even go to special schools to learn the art. In the sixth or seventh century, along with methods for making brushes, ink, and paper the art of shodo originated in China and came to Japan. Calligraphy was an essential part of the education of members of the ruling noble families, in those days.

Calligraphy is not just an art form to be admired nowadays but people use it to write New Year's cards, and in other situations in their daily lives, as time went by. Kaisho, or "square style" are different types of calligraphy where the strokes in the characters are precisely drawn in a printed manner gyosho. For shodo, a wide variety of paper can also be used. About 1,500 years ago, Chinese characters or kanji were introduced to Japan from Korea or China in about the fifth century. Chinese character calligraphy, or shodo ("the way of writing"), since that time, has been practiced by the Japanese, who have drawn on the Chinese tradition and produced eminent calligraphers of their own. At Japanese elementary schools, Shodo is a required subject and an elective subject at junior and senior high school. Not less than products of painting Calligraphical works are appreciated. But also this kind of fine arts possesses philosophical sense. Simply, the calligraphy is an art to write beautifully. On the rice paper, the master creates a work of art by bamboo brush and inks, which transfers harmony and beauty. In calligraphical works, the parity of simple and graceful is embodied as one of the main principles of Japanese aesthetics wabi-sabi

In Japanese calligraphy, there is nothing casual. For each line and point, and even for space testifies about many things the beginning, the direction, the form, and the ending of lines, the balance between elements is important. Harmonious, proportional, balanced are the hieroglyphs. Calligraphy in Japan is not only the beauty but also the sense more complex frequently than the value of written by brush hieroglyph. The integral attribute of the tea ceremony is the calligraphy. By Japanese aristocrats and Samurais, the calligraphy was studied. Each movement of the calligrapher's brush creates something fine, each line is meaningful. Because the letter in the East is considered as the epistle of the Heavens East inhabitants trust that the hieroglyph has also sacral value, because of this the calligraphical sign bears the power charge in it. Traditional ways of calligraphical symbols transfer are written on a white paper that personifies emptiness in Zen philosophy, and black signs on a white background seam concepts of Yin and Yang as female and man's origins.