Cal-Sumi Gallery
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Custom calligraphy,
brought to American walls.

Cal-Sumi Gallery brings the one-of-a-kind calligraphy artwork to collectors and homes across the United States.

Partnering with Issai Tanaka, acclaimed Tokyo-based calligrapher

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Portrait of calligrapher Issai Tanaka
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Issai Tanaka

Tokyo-based artist Issai Tanaka (b. 1977) is an acclaimed contemporary calligrapher whose work brings a centuries-old Japanese tradition into the world of modern art and interior design. A Chinese literature graduate of Daito Bunka University, he has been honored many times at the Yomiuri Shoho Exhibition, a major national showcase for Japanese calligraphy. His practice ranges from classical forms to contemporary abstraction, and he is especially known for bold block-style characters written at monumental scale. Represented by Gallery Kitai, he has performed live at the LA Art Show, and his pieces grace corporate and hospitality spaces in Japan, including the Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu, as well as private collections around the world.

RecognitionYomiuri Shoho Exhibition
TrainingDaito Bunka University
Notable InstallationsCorporate & Hospitality Interiors, Japan
PracticeKaisho, Gyosho & Sosho Styles
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Commission a Piece

Work with Issai Tanaka directly to create a piece written for you — a word and a meaning chosen with care.

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Consultation

We discuss the word or phrase you'd like brushed, its meaning, the setting it will live in, and the scale and style that suit it.

Choose a Size

Every piece is brushed to the scale that suits its setting, from an intimate accent to a full statement wall. Each size below is shown to scale against the same wall.

Small
6.5 × 9.5 inches
Format: Framed only

A quiet accent for an entryway, desk, or shelf.

Medium Small
13 × 9.5 inches
Format: Framed only

A personal piece for a study, bedroom, or gallery wall.

Medium
28 × 14 inches
Format: Framed, tapestry, or unframed

A feature piece for a living room or office wall.

Large
55 × 28 inches
Format: Framed, tapestry, or unframed

A statement work for a lobby or grand wall.

Choose a Word

We'll work with you to decide on the word or phrase you'd like brushed — something that means a great deal to you, or a word you live by. The calligraphy is never just about the beauty of the character itself — it becomes a daily, beautiful reminder of the belief or intention you carry with you.

Examples of Inspirational Words
love 愛 truth 真 heart 心 soar 翔 courage 勇
Nature Words
ocean 海 sky 空 mountain 山
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Creation

Issai Tanaka brushes your piece by hand in his studio in Japan. Every commission is an original — never a print or reproduction.

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Delivery

Your piece is mounted or framed to your preference, shipped with a signed certificate of authenticity, and arrives ready to hang.

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Bringing shodo into American homes and collections.

Cal-Sumi Gallery was founded to close the distance between Japan's living calligraphy tradition and collectors in the United States who want more than decoration — pieces with real craft, history, and presence.

We work in close partnership with Issai Tanaka, sourcing and commissioning original work, handling authentication, framing, and shipping, and helping collectors understand the meaning and technique behind each piece they bring home.