Shodou is the art of Japanese calligraphy, aspiring to creativity in artistic conception, nobility in thoughts and beauty in form. Japanese calligraphy can be divided into two types: Kanji calligraphy and kana calligraphy. Shodou is one amongst the four contemporary art in Japan: zither, chess, calligraphy and painting. Kana are special characters based on Kanji and created in the Heian period. Its strokes could be firm or supple, but are always elegant and refined.  Kana shodou often presents Waka and Haiku (different forms of Japanese poetry) in kana calligraphy.