Where can I buy sakura sumi?
At the moment I know of only two places on earth where you can buy this brand: the Kobaien factory where they make it and their outlet shop, Sasakawa Bunrindō, both in Nara city, Nara Prefecture. Apparently they had a branch in Tokyo from many years ago but I have yet to locate it. They do not sell over the internet but I imagine Sasakawa sell most of their goods mail order over the telephone to anywhere in Japan. The shop is open everyday except Sunday. The factory holds more erratic hours of business (it’s closed all weekend and some Wednesdays) and sumi is only made for six months of the year. Sasakawa Bunrindō Nara City, Sanjōdōri Suminaga-chō. Tel: (Nara 22)-4922 The two beautiful ladies who work the shop are very courteous and knowledgable, so if you make the effort and do some research beforehand, a visit to the shop is most rewarding. If you use any kind of sumi for tattooing remember that it does go off quickly, so only make as much as you need each time you tattoo. And never
