My hand-writing sucks. I've tried... really hard to make it not suck so much... but it really looks awful. There's nothing attractive about it. I have pages upon pages filling up a graph paper notebook in which I practice kanji and kana every day, using 4 square blocks to try and balance everything... but still, it looks awful.

Does anybody know of a good source online to look at samples of attractive Japanese hand-writing? Maybe even lessons? I don't want to be a master calligrapher or anything, but I'd like to have decent hand-writing that looks a little better than a child's.

Any suggestions?

you haven't written enough..it simple as that, mine was garbage 1 year ago. How is your handwriting in english might i ask, if it looks bad in that too then it probably is just your writing style. If not, then i suggest slowing down your writing speed and concentrating on the stroke order and making constant habbits of writing that particular character a certain way every time.

Try writing with a fountain pen or use a program to learn writing better (eg. Bimoji Training)

And btw. my English/German/Spanish handwriting sucks, whereas kana, kanji and hangul look passable. So I'd say there's no real connection between latin characters and other writing systems.

Ah and for samples, in the back of your Heisig-book should be a list with hand-written characters.

[Katsuo]

Paying attention to certain details will greatly improve your handwriting. But which details? This NHK book/DVD will tell you some.

The book gives many tips, but includes three main points:

1. "Horizontal" lines should be angled slightly upwards (approx. six degrees).
2. The lower right side of characters should be extended/strengthened to balance point one.
3. Pay attention to the spacing between elements, keeping it even in most cases.

I also suggest to install a kyokasho-style font and use it as a guide. (e.g. EPSON 教科書体Ｍ (epkyouka.ttf))

What Katsuo said. There's also more stuff to think about.

* horizontal strokes should often be slightly curved upwards, giving a bit "rounder" feeling to kanji.
* The three different ways to end a stroke makes a difference. stop, hook and drag. By learning when to use which, you make your kanji look much better.

mimic http://www.yamasa.cc/members/ocjs/kanjid...3?OpenForm

Seth - Try the suggestions they gave. I've got a bimoji DS training cartridge. (that I don't use every day like I'm supposed to.) Though you say, you don't want to be a master calligrapher, signing up and completing a calligraphy course will get you to understand the general balance of ideal kanji, etc. and that will likely trickle down to your everyday handwriting. I have a class I go to every Monday for three hours at a local shrine. It's great Japanese practice as well as enjoyable with a little sake and good company. And then I get to enjoy calligraphy as well.

Saizen is right, give yourself some time. But in that time if you aren't slowing down like Saizen said and concentrating on better writing, it won't get better on it's own. But if you aren't supplementing your attempts with input from something like a bimoji game or the NHK book like Konfu and Katsuo mentioned, it's likely not to improve much.

Konfu - Though there isn't necessarily a direct connection between one's handwriting in Latin characters and that in kanji, one's general attitude towards handwriting in one alphabet is likely to transfer to handwriting in any other writing system. That is unless the learner makes a conscientious effort to use clear, aesthetically pleasing writing. Then again, because one is a novice at kanji/kana they might not feel they can take the liberties they take in their native writing system, resulting in generally clearer handwriting in their second language's writing system.

My handwriting looks like a child's as well. My English handwriting is fairly terrible too. I don't worry about it too much but it is embarassing in front of my colleagues.

Ah, so did they finally come out with a video for that short NHK video series we were talking about earlier, or is this a different one?

I also recommend calligraphy, but I realize it's not for everyone. I enjoy it, and I find it helps me a lot, though.

[Katsuo]

rich_f Wrote:Ah, so did they finally come out with a video for that short NHK video series we were talking about earlier, or is this a different one?

The DVD for the "adult" handwriting series isn't out yet. The link above is to the earlier series on "attractive" handwriting.

This seems to be a good one.
http://www.zebra.co.jp/kakikata/kaisyo.html

Follow the links in the middle like the one 楷書体の書き方　その１
It'll show you quite detailed instructions, though in really hardcore Japanese.

Handwriting with a pen is called "ペン字"　"ペン習字"　and "硬筆", and there are a lot of classes, certifications, etc., if you are so inclined.

Keep in mind they are different from "書道" and "毛筆" which use brushes. I don't think "書道" would help you very much in writing with a pen. I have 書道１級 but my handwriting with a pen really really sucks.