“Hōso Mukyū” (寶祚無窮) [Meaning] Eternal prosperity without end. It expresses the wish that the prosperity of the Imperial Family and the nation will continue forever, as long as heaven and earth exist. (In fact, Japan is currently updating its record as the world's longest-lived nation at 2,684 years. It is also recorded in Guinness as the world's oldest imperial family.) The original text is recorded in the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan) as "寶祚之隆當與天壤無窮者矣" by Amaterasu Omikami. Among the oil soot inks, sesame oil soot is the finest, with the smallest particles. The characteristics of this sesame oil soot ink are its fine carbon particles, high purity, and strong black color. It spreads well and has beautiful bleeding, producing a pure black in thick ink and a black with a pale purple hue in diluted ink. The strong, jet-black color is especially suitable for kana and kanji works, making it a very valuable item. In addition, we have received many comments that the ink has a wonderful fragrance despite its age. On the back, the calligraphy of Hisamoto Hijikata, who died at the age of 84 in the winter of the Taisho era (1918), is inscribed. He was a Second Rank, First Order of Merit. The side is engraved with "Count Hijikata's Calligraphy." Hisamoto Hijikata was a Tosa samurai and politician from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji era. He worked with Ryoma Sakamoto and others to realize the Satcho Alliance. On another side, it says "Made by Genshoen," so it was probably made about fifty years ago in the early Showa era. The elaborate construction, with characters carved on all four sides of the ink stick, is also unique to that time. Size: Length 82mm, Width 20mm, Thickness 7mm Weight: Approximately 17g *New, unused, in a paulownia wood box. The photos are of the actual item.* Traditional craft designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. Calligraphy and Shodo Supplies: Suzu (ink stone), Sumi (ink stick), Hanshi (practice paper), Fude (brush), Bunchin (paperweight), Shodo set, Other