Hey I am moving back to the US and losing my shodo teacher. I was wondering if anybody had experience with some good books in Japanese on shodo. One can't learn everything out of a book, but it's probably better than nothing if there's something to guide my practice a bit.

I've found this one to be very good:

Brush Writing: Calligraphy Techniques for Beginners by Ryokushu Kuiseko

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0870118...oh_product

It depends on your level of ability. The book above is very good, though. I have a copy as well.

This book isn't bad either-- it's a little wordy, but it's got some useful stuff in it:
http://www.amazon.com/Sho-Japanese-Calli...827&sr=8-1

If you don't mind books in Japanese, and you're interested in 行書, then I really like this book, too:
http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%81%AF%E3%81%...061&sr=8-1

I also have his book on kana:
http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%81%AF%E3%81%...pd_sim_b_2

You'll find links to the other books in his series on the amazon.co.jp pages. He also has books on 楷書, 草書, and 実用書. (I don't like amazon.jp because shipping from them to the US is terrible, but they're out of stock at BK1.)

I also find it very useful to have a book that shows the 楷書, 行書, and 草書 forms of all of the kanji. This book isn't perfect, but it I like it. You have to look things up twice: once for the stroke orders, and once again to see a bigger version. Kanji are indexed by on-yomi, so you better know your on-yomi.

http://www.bk1.jp/product/02264667

Depending on where you go in the US, you probably will have a much easier time finding someone who can teach Chinese calligraphy than someone who can teach shodo.