(Japanese: 墨, “ink”). Ink produced by mixing plant soot with animal glue to form solid blocks or sticks. Sumi is ground on an inkstone (suzuri) and mixed with water to produce liquid ink in different concentrations. Sumi has been used in East Asia for centuries for calligraphy and ink-wash painting (sumi-e). Video here.

Liquid sumi, inkstick and inkstone.