The year 2025 began with Happy New Year greetings sent via email and social media. Unlike in previous years, we received no New Year’s postcards this time. Many companies and individuals have stopped sending postcards because of the rising cost of postage, which has increased from 63 yen to 85 yen per card. While an extra 20 yen may not seem like a significant issue if you’re sending just one or two postcards, it becomes more burdensome when we are sending a hundred, resulting in an additional cost of 2,200 yen. Sending New Year’s greetings via email has become a more cost-effective choice.
Japanese calligraphy lessons for beautiful handwriting
While our communication means a shift towards digital, handwriting remains highly valued in Japan. Japanese calligraphy lessons continue to be popular among both children and adults. I took private calligraphy lessons in elementary school to enhance my handwriting skills. We used thick and thin calligraphy brushes during these lessons to practice writing letters by following the examples. This training helped me improve my penmanship with both pens and pencils, allowing me to balance the grip pressure required for handwriting.
Handwriting conveys non-verbal expressions
The benefits of handwritten letters are manifold. One of the most notable benefits is their positive impression on recipients. A crafted handwritten card from our business partners can evoke an instant feel-good response. Despite troubles, the feel of a handwritten letter could also mend a broken relationship. When I had a problem with my ordered book at a bookstore, I received an apology letter written by a brush the next day. I was so impressed with the sincerity, and my bad feelings for the store were gone,
Appearance of handwriting as a part of your portrait
Handwritten letters serve not just as a means of communication; they also reflect the sender’s personality, providing a personal touch that digital messages often lack. For example, I felt my heart warm with handwritten comments on a postcard from my friend on my college day sent to me. Her hello message reminds me of our college days studying together.
There is a catch about the handwritten letter: the handwriting must be beautiful. Even without ruled lines, beautiful handwriting neatly aligns letters. In contrast, handwritten letters can create negative impressions, suggesting characteristics such as carelessness or unreliability. The appearance of handwritten characters matters.
Handwriting requires effort
Handwriting is not a simple task. Unlike crafting letters with computers, we cannot rewrite characters using unerasable writing utensils, including pens. I am always nervous about avoiding errors when I write a handwritten postcard with a pen. One tiny mistake can spoil the sheet.
While some handwritten notes and letters add to our lives, not all are helpful or necessary. Handwritten forms are the most burdensome. The government requires some documents to be handwritten on forms and submitted, and some Japanese banks require handwritten documents to be filled in and submitted.
The effort can be worthwhile
Although time-consuming and effort involved, handwritten letters convey deep feelings for others. Digital technology cannot replace the emotional benefits of handwritten correspondence.