Hobonichi 2026 A5 Cousin Cover: Yuichi Inoue – Jo (Going up)

The works of calligrapher Yuichi Inoue—known for breaking free from the confines of traditional calligraphy and creating bold, powerful pieces full of life—have been made into a techo cover.

This cover features Inoue’s signature style ofichijisho, or “single-character works.” Each dynamic character, written with a large brush soaked in ink on paper larger than the artist himself, bursts with energy while also conveying a sense of delicacy. From among the many single-character works he created, we selected “Jo”—a culmination of his later years—to serve as the basis for this cover design.

The front of the cover boldly displays the characterJo. The design captures the character’s powerful energy, as if it’s soaring upward into the sky.