Unpretentious

by Nao

moto, so, su

This character implies a natural state or something undecorated. If you like simple and natural things, this is for you. Such things are described as soboku. Boku means plain.

Material is called sozai. Zai means stuff. Sozai also means ingredients and subjects you write about.

Images and illustrations for a website is called sozai, too. You can search free images and illustrations by the term “free sozai” in Japanese. My favorite site is this:

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This website offers free images of seasonal flowers, plants, and events. Other materials are scenery, stars, sky, rainbow, the sea, animals, insects, and fruit. All are available in illustrations, wallpaper, and icons. They are free but please do not link any image directly.

First, draw the upper part of the character.

1. Draw the top horizontal line from the left to the right.
2. Draw the vertical line from the top.
3. Draw the second horizontal stroke.
4. Draw the longest horizontal stroke.
5. Draw the sweeping stroke from the center.
6. Draw the short stroke touching the previous stroke.
7. Draw the stroke that parallels the fifth stroke.
8. Draw the sweeping stroke that is almost horizontal.
9. Draw the dot at the end of the previous stroke.
10. Draw the vertical stroke with an upward turn.
11. Draw the sweeping stroke on the left of the vertical stroke.
12. Draw the dot on the other side.

The fifth and sixth strokes become one stroke when you write it with a pen. Similarly, the seventh and eighth become one.