Stroke Endings

[idunnomaso]

When just casually writing in Japanese with a pen or a pencil, (as opposed to practicing Japanese calligraphy), is it necessary to write the characters using the three stroke endings, (the stop, the sweep, and the hook)?

[Hikaru_C]

I believe so. To native readers/writers, whether Japanese or Chinese (as both use same/similar kanji characters), even with a pencil or a pen, the proper stroke use and direction can still be detected.