I originally did left to right, top to bottom. Then I found out that it's better to do it top to bottom, right to left. I didn't have any graph paper, so I continued to do it left-right, but now I go up-down.

alyks Wrote:Ooh nice. What kind of fountain pen do you use? I wish I had the money for a nice one. Right now I just use this 15 dollar Manuscript brand pen.

I have a nice normal fountain pen for normal writing ($~150 Parker) but I got a cheapo ~$8 oblique Sheaffer from a craft-store for doing the kanji. It works so reliably I can't find a reason to upgrade it other than maybe the ugly blue plastic housing and I can't find a converter anywhere (currently I use a syringe to refill from bottle).

I've also got a 万年筆筆 that I use when in the mood to really work on technique. I haven't tried bottle ink with it yet.

-edit-
http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/Sheaffe...raphy.html
Mine is the old design which is more offensive to the senses. I use a medium nib.
http://www.fredaldous.co.uk/shop-online/...sh-pen.htm
..and the brush

I think what nac_est is doing with the graph paper is VERY SMART! The proportions and the spacing of his parts are excellent!!! I wish I had the patience to use the same method to get some of the more crowded characters right...

http://namida.se/junk/kanji.jpg

Top to bottom, right to left.
... and this certainly isn't my prettiest page of kanji.