Tenkoku – seal-engraving – is a highly satisfying craft that produces a useful hanko stamp (see: the red bit in the Niwaki logo) ready for you to personalise your stationary, gifts and much more.

Having converted your name (or any word you like) into a kanji pictogram or into katakana letterforms, Nao will guide you in the creation of the design for your carving, which starts off as a simple sketch on paper before being refined into a more stylised symbol. As a highly-skilled master calligrapher, Nao will employ her unique insight into the shape and form of Japanese letters to help you discover the most pleasing version of your design, balanced with the practicalities of how it will carve and print.

Once you’re happy with the look of your hanko, you’ll get down to the surprisingly meditative business of carving the actual stamp, working with traditional tools, techniques and materials. You will experiment with printing on washi paper, and, if time allows, begin to explore alternative approaches to all the core techniques. The end results are sure to be treasured for years to come.