These kanji characters are pronounced 'sou shi sou ai' and refer to a love that's mutual, that's returned. It is most commonly thought of in romantic terms. It's often translated as 'mutual love.' So much more satisfying than the unrequited sort! It would make a wonderful gift for a special person on an anniversary or as a wedding or birthday gift. The characters are written in the traditional way, vertically from right to left. Four-character kanji compounds like this are referred to as a yoji jukugo (四字熟語). There are hundreds, and they're required study for Japanese children. They appear on school entrance exams, as well as in the conversation of well read people. They are linguistic gems, conveying meaning compactly, colorfully and profoundly. They are often infused with references to such things as classical Chinese and Japanese literature and history and Buddhist precepts. Brush artist Hiro created this work at his studio in Kyoto by hand. Then we scanned it for use here. Hiro's red name stamp in the lower left corner adds a vibrant dash of color, and red also happens to be an auspicious color in Japan that is often used for weddings and other special occasions. The bold, energetic writing style gives this artwork a dynamic sense of energy and flow.