Takase Studios - The Art of Japanese Words

Welcome To Takase Studios
The Art of Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase

Four Virtues of Tea
12 1/4" W x 43" H

Takase Studios is devoted to Custom Japanese Calligraphy where you can work directly with Master Calligrapher Eri Takase to create original works of art. We use a fun and informative process where you have input into each step of the design - and you can see all the samples before the final artwork is created.

Whether you are looking for a special gift (perhaps a wedding present, for an anniversary or a house-warming gift) or artwork for your home, office or dojo we would be delighted to work with you. We also offer Custom Japanese Scrolls perfect for the Martial Artist or Tea Ceremony enthusiast.

Master Takase's work has sold all over the world as custom art for individuals, on commercial products, in print and in film. Her brand of traditional Japanese calligraphy has been described as refined and cultured. She has been praised not only for her beautiful art but also for her approachability, courtesy, and professionalism.

And, of course, if you are looking for a beautiful work of Custom Japanese Calligraphy then we would love to work with you.

Master Takase also does Custom Japanese Calligraphy for Graphic Design for Commercial and professional use and has an impressive resume including movie titles, book illustrations, CD covers, advertising and product packaging. Most recently she did the calligraphy for TV Guide's Emmy Awards After Party and was featured on NBC's Extra.

Not sure what you want? No problem. We have a catalog of more than ten thousand designs suitable for personal and commercial use at Stock Japanese Kanji Designs. These designs are perfect for personal use as authentic Japanese tattoos and also for commercial use such as illustrations for books, CD-covers, magazines and marketing materials.

Custom Japanese Scrolls

Japanese Scrolls, called kakemono, make a very special and thoughtful gift that arrive ready to hang.

Each scroll is personally hand-lettered by Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase and is made with quality silk borders Japanese paper and are designed to last generations.

For each Custom Japanese Scrolls we work with you personally on each step of the process including options for translation, fonts, and the layout. We send you sample designs through email that we discuss and modify as needed. This way you have input at every step and will be able to see how the scroll will look before it is created.

These scrolls can be completed in as little as a few days though you are welcome to take all the time you need to consider the options.

Custom Japanese Scrolls start at $220 for the medium size scroll and $450 for the large scroll.

Learn Japanese Calligraphy

Deluxe Calligraphy Set
Calligraphy Box w/ lid. Bush, Ink Stone, Paper weight, Water bottle, Calligraphy mat and Paper

Learn Japanese Calligraphy with Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase. Eri Takase's Learn Japanese Calligraphy is unique series of CD's that teaches the basics of Japanese calligraphy on CD-ROM so you can see Master Takase brush the characters.

With calligraphy, movement is everything and being able to see a master brush the characters is essential to learning proper technique and is something you simply cannot get from a book.

We offer the CD-ROMS by themselves or with complete calligraphy sets like our Deluxe Calligraphy Set shown above that provides you with everything you need to get started learning Japanese Calligraphy.

Custom Japanese Calligraphy

Custom Japanese Scrolls

Learn Japanese Calligraphy

Work with Master Eri Takase to create a custom work of Art. Framed and unframed options are available and work is usually completed in a few days. Mailed from the US for speedy delivery.

Also See Romantic Art Gifts

Custom works of art on beautiful scrolls of Japanese paper and a fine silk border. These are high quality scrolls that will last generations.
Work directly with Master Takase to create an original work of art for your home or business.

Learn Japanese Calligraphy at your own pace with Japanese Calligraphy lessons on CD-ROM. Each lesson features video of Master Takase brushing the characters - Learn from a Master.

Calligraphy Sets Are Also Available

Graphic Design

Body Art

True Victory is Victory Over Oneself

Fine Art

Looking for a Japanese Calligraphy graphic for your product or marketing material? Takase Studios features a full line of custom and stock images

We are honored to be able to create custom designs as truly individual works of art.

Modern designs by Master Calligrapher Eri Takase take on a whole new dimension with non-traditional methods and materials

TV Guide's 60th Primetime Emmy Awards Party
Featuring Master Calligrapher Eri Takase's Artwork

Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase's original artwork was featured on TV Guide's invitation to their 60th Primetime Emmy Awards Party which was held last month. This beautiful invitation and Master Takase's calligraphy was also shown on NBC's entertainment show EXTRA.

Looking for a Japanese Calligraphy Design? Browse through our catalog of over 5000 Japanese Kanji Designs. These hand-lettered designs by Master Takase can be instantly downloaded once the order is placed and are available in commercial use formats of 72 dpi, 300 dpi, and often 600 dpi JPG. Our Licensing Agreement is generous and suitable for commercial applications.

Master Takase's work can be commissioned for Custom Japanese Calligraphy for Non-Exclusive Use for limited distribution or if exclusivity then Custom Japanese Calligraphy for Exclusive Use.

Tattoo Sourcebook
Featuring Japanese Tattoo Designs by Master Eri Takase

Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase has lent her hand to over forty original designs for Tattoo Sourcebook which is a compendium of modern designs by today's hottest tattoo artists.

Visit our Japanese Kanji Tattoo Design site for the perfect Japanese kanji tattoo. This site features over ten thousand original designs by Master Takase - original designs available nowhere else. These carefully researched and beautifully hand-lettered designs come with the line art that your tattoo artist needs to ink the design. Just order and print and take to your tattoo artist. We give you everything you need for the perfect Japanese tattoo - your tattoo artist does not even need to know Japanese. And all designs can be instantly downloaded so you can get your Japanese tattoo today. Not only can you get a design from a name you trust, but you can get it now!

Eri Takase is ranked a Master Calligrapher by two of Japan's most prestigious calligraphic societies. Training since the age of six in traditional Japanese calligraphy she has expanded her art to include custom tattoo designs and recently has started her own website featuring frequently requested designs that are economical and can be immediately downloaded. To see her beautiful calligraphy designs visit Catalog of Japanese Kanji Tattoos.

Real by Jane Eamon

Singer/Songwriter Jane Eamon has released her new CD "Real". This is simply a beautiful album. To take a quote from her biography "Eamon's soulful, spiritual, and easygoing sound deftly combines elements of country, folk, blues, gospel and Celtic music."

"I wanted to capture the sound of Gordie and I playing live in the room with the love and energy that passes between us to be evident on the recording. I think we did it. The rough mixes sound like we're in the room." Jane Eamon

I encourage you to hear her music at www.myspace.com/janeeamon or visit her website www.janeandgord.com

The CD was designed by Scott Gamble and the calligraphy was created by Eri Takase. The calligraphy is a design of the word Storyteller which in Japanese is koudanshi and is so appropriate for the storyteller Jane Eamon.

Heart Sutra Mantra

"Gyatei, gyatei, ha ra gyatei, hara so- gyatei, boji sowaka"

hannya shingyo

The Dalai Lama translates this as "go, go, go beyond, go thoroughly beyond, and establish yourself in enlightenment"

This work of art by Master Takase is on natural, hand-made Japanese paper. The framing was done to show the four deckled edges by tacking the artwork onto a white matte and finishing with a black frame with a slight gold border.

We encourage our clients to order the artwork unframed and frame it locally to match your decor.

Heart Sutra Mantra
by Eri Takase

Photo by Anonymous Collector

See our complete catalog of products at Shodokai - The Art of Master Calligrapher Eri Takase

Japanese Calligraphy Art - Visit our on-line gallery of beautiful Japanese Calligraphy Art all hand-lettered by Master Takase.

Master Japanese Calligrapher, or more properly, Shihan Eri Takase has been living and working in the United States since 1995. Her work has sold all over the world as custom art for individuals, on commercial products, in books, magazines, and in film. Her style of traditional Japanese calligraphy has been described as refined and cultured. After a lifetime study of traditional calligraphy in Japan, Master Takase has devoted herself to adapting the art of Japanese Calligraphy to new mediums and methods and the results are breathtaking.

In 1989, Master Calligrapher Eri Takase was awarded the highest rank in Japanese Calligraphy, of Shihan. As a member of Japan's most prestigious calligraphic society, the Bokuteki-kai, Eri Takase is among the few to have won multiple best of category awards in national competitions and her work has been displayed in the Osaka Museum of Art. To view some of this award winning art, please visit Traditional Japanese Calligraphy

In 1997 Master Takase founded her own school Takase Shodokai. Along with formal classes Master Takase also developed a series of learning CD's. For more information see Learn Japanese Calligraphy.

Now living and working in the United States Master Takase's beautiful artwork sells all over the world as fine art, custom art for individuals, and as commercial art in products, print, and film.

Making Japanese Calligraphy approachable to an international audience is one of Master Takase's major goals and as you browse through this website perhaps you will agree that she has made tremendous strides.

This year marks Takase Studios 15th Anniversary and to commemorate we have posted an Interview with Eri Takase. Master Takase has not talked much about herself over the years and in this interview she talks about her life and art. This interview was conducted in June of 2007 for a feature article in Photoshop Magazine by the editor Murat Akcicek.