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
