The benefits of calligraphy:
more than just neater handwriting

Benefits of calligraphy ①–③ (visible skills)

① Neater handwriting

Good handwriting is not a talent. It comes down to four things: how you hold the pencil or brush, how you sit, stroke order and the shape of each character. In Kakikata Shodo, children learn these “forms” step by step, following Japan’s national curriculum guidelines. By looking carefully at the model as they write, they learn to write well-balanced, easy-to-read characters. Beautiful handwriting is a treasure for life. For details, see An activity for neater handwriting.

② Correct posture and “shosa” (careful manners)

Sitting with a straight back. Getting the tools ready carefully, and putting them away when finished. In calligraphy, how children behave before and after writing (shosa) matters too. Good posture is also the foundation for other studies and for daily life.

③ Deep concentration

Observing the model closely and paying attention to each stroke. By repeating quiet moments of focusing on tome, hane and harai (the stops, hooks and sweeps of each stroke), children build a habit of deep concentration that also helps with other studies and sports.

Pencil (kakikata) and brush (shodo): what each one builds

“Shuji” (handwriting practice) includes kohitsu, writing with a pencil, and mohitsu, writing with a brush and ink. Each builds slightly different skills, so we recommend learning both.

In Kodomo School’s Kakikata Shodo, children learn both pencil and brush writing in the same class. Children in the final year of kindergarten start with the pencil, then move on to the brush pen, water calligraphy (practice writing with water) and finally the ink brush, so they almost never get covered in ink straight away or come to dislike the brush. For the difference between the terms, see Shuji, shodo and kakikata: what’s the difference?

The “invisible strengths” we most want to nurture

What Kodomo School most wants to nurture through calligraphy are the strengths that don’t show up in test scores.

1. Self-esteem (the confidence of “I did it!”)

   The sense of achievement when “I did it!” and “I wrote it well!”, just like the model. Getting through these “small steps” by their own effort builds a real confidence: “I’m okay” and “if I try, I can do it.”

2. Perseverance and observation

   “Perseverance” to face themselves quietly and practice again and again toward a goal (the model). “Observation” to calmly see where their writing differs from the model. These become an inner anchor that supports children when they face difficulties in the future.

3. The ability to calm the mind

   The scent of ink is said to calm the mind and improve concentration. It settles irritated feelings, and after finishing, the mind feels clear. This experience of “resetting the mind” also leads to the ability to calm one’s own feelings.

For Kodomo School, calligraphy is not “a technique for neat writing.” It is a “way” (dō) itself: one that draws out children’s “invisible strengths” and builds the confidence to “live true to themselves.”

Drawbacks and things to be careful about

Here are honest answers to the concerns parents often have before starting.

Which children it suits, and when to start

Children it suits: has started to take an interest in hiragana and writing; writes in a way that is hard to read, or you are concerned about how they hold the pencil; you want to give them time to work calmly; likes copying a model.

When to start: as a guide, pencil writing (kakikata) from the final year of kindergarten (age 5–6), and the brush (ink) from around January of the final kindergarten year. Learning the correct grip and posture when children start writing hiragana changes their writing from then on. It is not too late to start in elementary or junior high school. For details, see When should a child start calligraphy?

Goals help children keep going: in brush writing, children can take kyu/dan grade exams at the classroom they usually attend (there are no pencil-handwriting exams; there are no grade exams during the final kindergarten year; from April of Grade 1, children start working toward grades through the monthly assignment). Every January there is also a calligraphy contest.

Typical tuition, and Kakikata Shodo at Kodomo School

Most children’s calligraphy (shuji/shodo) classes charge around ¥5,000 a month, with a range of from the ¥3,000s to about ¥6,000 depending on the class. In Kodomo School’s Kakikata Shodo, one monthly tuition covers both pencil and brush writing.

In addition, there are costs such as a calligraphy set. For details, see Lesson times, tuition and how to enroll, and for the costs beyond monthly tuition, see Typical tuition for calligraphy classes.

Frequently asked questions

One stroke at a time, carefully.
When you finish, your mind feels clear!

About the author

Taito MoritaFounder & principal of Kodomo School (Morita Group Co., Ltd.)

He carries on the Morita Juku founded in Toyohashi in 1972. Through soroban, calligraphy and art at about 90 classrooms in Aichi and Shizuoka and at our Hanoi school in Vietnam, he helps children build the strength to believe in themselves. He also gives talks and seminars on education.

Message from our founderTalks & seminarsUpdated: October 11, 2026