Kakizome Coloring Pages

The first writing of the new year

Kakizome is an event where you write characters with a brush and ink for the first time in the new year.
Usually, people write on January 2nd.
You write your goals for the year, your favorite words, or happy words with all your heart.
Long ago, it was an event held in the imperial palace. It is said to have spread in the Edo period when children started learning it at terakoya (temple schools).

Tools for Kakizome

The 1st page is a picture of the tools used for Kakizome.
There is a square stone inkstone to rub the ink, an ink stick, and 2 brushes, one thick and one thin.
The water dropper on the left is a tool to put water into the inkstone.
The long bar in front is called a paperweight, and it holds the paper so it does not move.
Behind them, a blank piece of calligraphy paper is spread out.

Now, let's start writing

The 2nd page is a picture of a girl in a kimono doing Kakizome.
She holds her brush straight up over the calligraphy paper and is just about to start writing.
Next to her, her dad is sitting on his knees and watching over her kindly.
On the wall behind them, New Year's game toys like a kite and a battledore are decorated.

The written paper goes to Dondo Yaki

The 3rd page is a picture of Dondo Yaki.
Dondo Yaki is an event around January 15th on Little New Year, where people gather and burn New Year's decorations like Kadomatsu and Shimekazari.
You burn your Kakizome paper together with them.
It is said that if the burning paper flies up high, your handwriting will get better.
The whole family is looking up at the fire around a tall tower built with bamboo.

Words to write for Kakizome

For Kakizome, people often write words perfect for the new year, like "First Sunrise," "New Spring," "Hope," or "Dream."
It is also great to write your goal for this year with 1 character.
The secret is to write big and freely.
After Kakizome, try showing your family what words you wrote.
Some families hang the written paper on the wall during New Year's.
At school, the Kakizome you wrote over winter break might be lined up and displayed in the hallways or classrooms.
It is fun to look at and compare everyone's handwriting!

Inkstones and ink sticks are black or gray

For the first coloring page, color the inkstone and ink stick black or dark gray.
If you color the ink pooled in the inkstone extra dark, it will look just like the real thing!
We recommend white or light brown for the brush hairs, brown for the handle, and blue or green for the water dropper.
Leave the calligraphic paper white.

Kimono should feel like New Year's

For the second coloring page, the girl's kimono will look bright and cheerful if you color it red or pink, and her obi sash yellow or gold.
Color the dad's kimono navy blue or gray to help the girl stand out.
The writing mat under the calligraphic paper is dark green or navy blue.

Flames go from yellow to orange to red

For the third coloring page, if you color the middle of the flames yellow and mix into orange and red as you go outward, the fire will look like it is burning brightly!
Try coloring the bamboo green, the straw yellow-ocher, and the distant mountains light sky blue.

Color the kites and battledores in bright colors

If you color the kites on the wall in the second page with different colors like red, yellow, and blue, they will look festive for New Year's!
Color the battledores with gold or red, and it is fun to draw patterns on them too.
Color the tatami mats light yellow-green and leave the paper on the shoji screens white to make the room look nice and neat.

Color the coats of the onlookers bright

The people in the third coloring page are wearing winter coats and scarves.
Make the children's mittens and knit caps red or yellow to look extra cute!
If you color the adults' coats navy blue or brown, the children will stand out.

Rubbing an Inkstick with Wakamizu

Long ago, people rubbed an inkstick using "Wakamizu," the very first water drawn on New Year's morning, to do Kakizome.
People believed that Wakamizu was special water that washed away bad things for the year.

Also as Winter Break Homework at School

Today, many elementary school kids do Kakizome as winter break homework.
They often write on special Kakizome paper, which is longer and narrower than regular calligraphic paper.

Rice Cakes at Dondoyaki

People say that if you eat rice cakes or dumplings roasted in the Dondoyaki fire, you will not catch a cold for that whole year.
Depending on the area, it has many names like "Sagicho" or "Saitoyaki."

How to Hold the Brush

The basic rule for Kakizome is to hold the brush straight up and down.
Like the girl in the second picture, straighten your back, look closely at the paper, and then start writing.
Hold the edge of the paper with your left hand so it stays still and makes it easier to write.
If you rub the inkstick slowly, the ink becomes dark and pretty.
The trick is to add a little water at a time to the inkstone and rub it gently in circles.
Today, many people use ready-to-use liquid ink too.