The air was tense in the Nippon Budokan arena in Tokyo on Thursday morning as nearly 5,000 contestants concentrated on perfecting each stroke during an annual calligraphy contest traditionally held at the beginning of the new year.
The competition requires participants to write phrases or poems of increasing complexity with a traditional brush and black ink within an allotted 24 minutes.
Those taking part, aged from three to 93, were judged on the beauty of their strokes and the expression of their writing.
The winners will be announced at a separate ceremony on February 26.
Known as "Kakizome", which means "first writings", events to practise calligraphy are held in venues across Japan, during which people write auspicious characters or phrases meant to help strengthen one's resolve and resolutions in the year ahead.
Participants show off their writings at a New Year calligraphy contest in Tokyo on Thursday.
Japanese take part in a New Year calligraphy contest in Tokyo on Thursday
A girl brushes up her writing skills at a calligraphy contest in Tokyo
Young contestants write calligraphy during the annual event in Tokyo
Contestants display their calligraphy banners during the annual contest in Tokyo on Thursday
About 3,000 people took part in the calligraphy contest to celebrate the start of New Year
The competition requires participants to write phrases or poems in 24 minutes
A young contestant writes calligraphy during the annual New Year contest in Tokyo
Contestants are judged on the beauty of their strokes and expression of their writing