Documentary on the importance of calligraphic styles in different aspects of Japanese life, and the importance placed on good writing technique. Includes scenes of school children learning to write, citizens' writing competitions, calligraphy masters whose work is collected as art, styles of writing associated with billboards, menus, kabuki theater, etc. Also includes a brief analysis of the difference between modern Japanese writing and the older traditional ideograms.
—Stephan Chodorov, director