Why I started calligraphy

One day when I was in high school, my teacher was in a good enough mood to praise my calligraphy the whole class through. It prompted me to pursue calligraphy.

Later, he saw that I was not at all interested in traditional calligraphy. He gave me two sheets of large tatami-mat-sized Japanese paper and the most gigantic calligraphy brush I’d ever seen and said, “Get down to it! Follow your intuition.” That was the moment my insecurity of whether I was good or bad vanished. I just followed my instincts with that brush. It was a blissful moment. Nothing more. I did not possess any technique, but I selected certain characters and expressed whatever came into my mind. It felt good to have what I imagined emerge on a piece of paper in a matter of a second with a slap of a brush.

I have a special interest in the force of brushes and intensity of handwriting which represent profound pleasure of calligraphy art.

Since then, I have continued to practice the impromptu art of calligraphy. The reason, I think, Is that I aspire to live fully in the now, and not to be bound by the past or the future. A calligrapher neither draws a draft nor rehearses. Once done, a piece cannot be reworked or altered, so a calligrapher usually writes numerous pieces at a time and chooses only one to keep. Through my practice of calligraphy, an artistic expression of living in the now, I would like to continue to write characters that show no hesitation.
And here I am ……

Biography:

1996
Started “Asobima Sho” – workshops in various locations.
Began “Rakkan ya” (Signature Stamp Store) at events,
carving stone rakkan (signature) stamps on-site.
1995
Began production of “Tegaki Goyomi” – hand-written calendars (400 pieces limited/per year)
1989
Graduated from Chubi Central Art School, Department of Calligraphy and Design
1968
Born in Tokyo

Awards:

Awarded prizes at Toyo Shogeiin Ten in 1988, 1990 and 1992.

Solo Exhibitions:

2019
d-lab gallery (Saitama Iruma, Japan)
2018
INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF CCCS (NY)
2017
Gomenkudasai (NY)
2016
Stony Point Center (NY)
2014
d-lab gallery (Saitama Iruma, Japan)
2014
Shimada Bijyutukan (Kumamoto)
2012 & 2010
Kinujin with other artists (Saitama Hanno, Japan)
2012,2009
2008,2007
Gallery Café Farma (Saitama Tokorozawa, Japan)   
2010
Atelier Minstrel (Marugame, Japan)
2010
‘t Japanse Winkeltje (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
2010
Nora ya (Tokyo, Japan)
2009
Gallery Kamefuku (Tokyo Kunitachi, Japan)
2008
Gallery Isshiki, with another artist (Nagano Karuizawa, Japan)
2007
Gallery Nomori (Saitama Kawagoe, Japan)
2006
Koshika (Kiryu, Japan)
2000
C’est la Vie (Tokyo, Japan)
2000
Ura (Saitama Hanno, Japan)

Group show:

2015
Inter National Center Of CCCS (NY)
2015
Kosyundou Garllrey (Yamanashi)
2014
Oumimaibara kouminkan (Shiga)
2013
Caelum garllery (NY)
2012
grallery onetwentyeight (NY)
2012
KINUJIN (Saitama)
2010
KINUJIN ( Saitama)
2008
Garllery Isshiki (Nagano)
2021  LACE MILL IN KINGSTON,NY

Design Works:

  • Calligraphy used in a NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) BS Premium program, “Shin Nihon Fudoki” in an episode, “Bi no Shiro, Tatakai no Shiro (Castles of Beauty, Castles of War)” (Aired in April, 2011)
  • Website material for Earth Day Tokyo, 2006, 2007 and 2008
  • Shop logo: “Coffee Shop Bashamichi”
  • Studio logo: “Studio Kanae”
  • Shop logo: “Grand Coeur” (a natural yeast bakery)
  • Company logo: “Lapin Noir, Kuro-usagi” (a natural yeast bakery)
  • Company logo: “Shigi Gura” (for Yamamoto Soy Sauce)
  • Label for konnyaku gel cake: “Gentaro”
  • Labels for Japanese sake: “Koshu Jun-mai,” “Hatsu Shibori” and “Nigori zake.” (for Igarashi Brewery)
  • Logo for soy sauce promotional goods: “Matsumoto Shoyu” (for Matsumoto Soy Sauce)
  • Tofu product label: “Tamayura” (for Mogi Tofu Inc.)

The Workshop, Sparkling Art:

Popular among children as well as adults, including those who do not understand Japanese. More than a dozen workshops are held annually in the Kanto, Tohoku and Kansai regions of Japan and in The Netherlands such as:

  • Sponsored by NPO AOURA, for the care centers, Saitama, Japan (2012- )
  • For a class for handicapped children, The Junior High School in Hanno, Saitama, Japan (2012)
  • Eco tourism program of Hanno- city, Saitama, Japan (2011)
  • Sponsored by Higashi Murayama Children’s Theatre with a grant from the National Agency for Cultural Affairs, Tokyo, Japan (2011-2013)
  • Sponsored by Omi Community Center, Maibara, Shiga, Japan (2009)

Media Exposures:

  • “yomi time” NEW YORK EVENT JOURNAL (2015)
  • “Kodomo” Benesse (2015)
  • “Hello Japan” Netherlands radio (2010)
  • “Japanese Calligraphy” on BBC Iran (2010)
  • “Tooku e Ikitai (Far Away Places)” on Nippon TV (2009)

Volunteer

  • Denndera Caravan
(c) Yamada Asako www.yamada-asako.com 掲載の画像の無断使用・転載を禁じます。
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