The year of the fire, we are already more than a third of the way through 2026. But I would like to take a brief look back at the events of 2025.
New year’s Exshibition
This is our annual New years calligraphy exhibition in Tokyo metropolitan art museum. (by Nihon shuji gakkai ) .Total of 11 participants exhibited in 2025 ♪ At the wall In our class room was full of the wonderful works.
In2025, Three new participations— Helen-san, Linda-san and Ellis-san —joined from Wednesday’s class.
We start with children’s models in regular lesson, and with their names in hiragana.
As the New year’s -Calligraphy Exhibition, you use adult’s models with their names in kanji.
For all three persons, we have chosen kanji characters that match the pronunciation of their names. There are a few rather difficult characters, but we’ve managed to find some lovely ones.
Teruko-san has won the Tokyo Art and Culture Association Award ♪
The design on the shield changes every year. This time it was a crown♪
The 2025 Photo Edition
In 2025, our students’ work was featured in the photo section three times♪
Albert -san did it once in cursive script. Teruko-san did it twice—once in block style and once in cursive style!
Unfortunately Teruko-san has returned to Japan and has left the Mizukuki-kai. But she continues to practise calligraphy there too♪ It’s fine to see her name in the competition results every month and to watch her gradually move up the ranks.
Workshop in Batsu
This has also become an annual tradition, and I am truly grateful to everyone who takes part. In 2025, we held two workshops (15th and 16th) at Sachiko-san’s shop, Japanese Winkel Batsu.
The first workhop was at 2 February
Under the gloomy skies, everyone living with feeling rather down. Sachiko-san suggested the character ‘光’ (light).
The Kanji character ‘光’ consists of just a single character. However, as it is made up of a horizontal line, a vertical line, a dot, a stroke to the left, and a curved stroke to the right—it is actually quite a difficult character to write.
At 2 Feb. 「光」of early spring.
February is usually rather cloudy, but I remember the weather being lovely that day♪
A gentle, cheerful and peaceful time that made me forget the cold
At 10th August,「光」of early sumer.
Amidst the dazzling summer light, a moment of calm and serenity, as if cut off from the rest of the world
We were delighted to have children participation for the first time! ♪ It’s such a intensive workshop that even adults can find it tiring, but she sat right through to the end and kept writing.
In February, we forget the cloudy skies; in August, we forget the heat. The serious expressions on everyone’s faces; the best work of the day, a blend of satisfaction and a touch of regret.
The time passed in an atmosphere that was both cheerful and earnest, and we’ve produced some truly fine pieces♪
Two people from the February group have joined Mizukukikai-school.
They’ve been attending for over a year now, and are now writing more difficult characters with strong, confident strokes♪
Thank you to everyone who took part, and to Sachiko-san ♪
Calligraphy works：桜梅桃李
One of the students from my school has asked me to design some lettering for a tattoo♪
桜梅桃李 Ou Bai Tou Ri ＝‘Cherry, Plum, Peach, Apricot’ , she had chosen the characters herself.
She has four children, each with their own unique personality. Just as trees each bloom with different beautiful flowers and bear delicious fruit, she hopes that each of her children will lead a rich and fulfilling life.
I took the time to feel each child’s individual personality and combine this with the ‘Kanji characters’ and ‘them image’…
She is very keen on calligraphy.
It really makes me happy to see her skills improving all the time♪
Thank you for your order, L-san.
Calligraphy works：Ryo in a Enso ( zen-circle )
About two years ago, I received an order for a calligraphy piece titled ‘健仁’ ( Kenji) in a ‘Enso’.
This order was for to commemorate the birth of a child. It was the first time I had ever depicted an ‘ensō’ as a work.
Two years have passed, and I was delighted to receive an order for a second piece to celebrate the arrival of their second child.
They decided already name of the sound ‘ Ryo ‘.
I suggested few character with sound, they decided on the character ‘亮’ with the meaning ‘ Bright, clear, distinct, sincere ‘,
I prayed that his life would unfold in a grand circle, filled with peace and happiness
Demonstrations and Calligraphy works
I’ve already written about the demonstration at the bonsai exhibition in June on my blog, but I also gave a demonstration in September
At the first time, it was an order for calligraphy works
As a commemorative gift for the leadership conference ‘A Different Kind of Power’, organised by Hollandse Nieuwe in September.
They have requested a piece featuring a single kanji character that embodies the theme of ‘kindness’.
After discussion, we decided that the character ‘優’.
‘Kindness’ is ‘excellent’ both as a person and in everything one does.
It was quite a feat to produce 100 pieces in such a short time, but as I’m always keen to take on new challenges, I couldn’t say no (laughs).
I believe that the commissions I receive are ‘things I’m meant to do’.
Perhaps they’re a kind of spiritual training from the gods—tasks that ‘the current me’ is ‘capable of’…
100+10 pieces of ‘優’works
As this was a rush job, I did a rough sketch with a brush. I showed them the block style, semi-cursive style and cursive style versions, they chose the block style straight away… Though block style requires the most care, as every single stroke has to be written with precision (laughs).
‘What on earth was kindness all about…?’ — I felt like I was going to lose my head halfway through, but I managed to finish 100 pieces. However, when I got in touch, I got another 10 pieces order (wooow).
Out of the 100 I wrote, there was just one mistake attempt; out of the extra 10, there were four botched attempts… I think ( laugh ).
Brush for demonstration
On the day of the meeting, I also gave a demonstration as the opening act.
I found that I didn’t have a brush of quite the right size to hand for writing a crisp, bold ‘優’ in block style for the full-size sheet ( 全紙 69 ×136cm ) of paper. (!)
At times like this, I do feel a slight inconvenience at not being in Japan. I could have used the extra-large brush that I’d used for the bonsai exhibition, but it just wasn’t quite right…
This time, I wrote using a large brush from my collection that I use sometimes —a brush called ‘Shin-gi’ that I received from Machida Shōundō, who have always been so kind to me.
Spot Groningen
The event will take place in the small hall at the Spot Groningen venue. The audience will seated in tiered seating looking down onto the stage.
Once all the guests have taken their seats, I walk over to the full-size sheet of paper set up in the center of the stage . And begin to write, focusing my mind.
Although there are over 100 people in the hall, it is so quiet you can almost hear a pin drop.
I ground a little ink, and even that faint sound echoed (laughs)
Whether I’m writing at home or in front of a large audience, the ‘moment of writing’ is always the same
I dip the brush in ink, let my imagination take flight as I face the paper… I write as I always do, then stamp my seal to finish it off
I relaxed much more that I first gave a demonstration at Nienoord.
It was a space where everyone’s minds focused… it felt really good.
The event was a fantastic with a variety of activities, including dance, Aikido, lectures on leadership, discussion sessions and practical games.
Thank you, Hollandse Nieuwe, for reaching out to me.
Over 2026・・・
Looking back, 2025 was a year full of events.
It may seem like something new, but it’s simply a matter of taking one step at a time, at the same pace.
In the ‘Way’ of calligraphy, as long as you don’t stop walking, you can keep walking forever.
Following in the footsteps of my teacher, who set out before me, I pass on this ‘Way’ to those who walk it after me.
Seeing them steadily improve brings me joy and pride, but at the same time, it spurs me on to strive for an even higher level myself! (^-^)/
2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse.
It is said that this year will be filled with intense energy and passion, bringing about significant changes.
I intend to devote myself even more practically to both calligraphy and music, and I look forward to growing together with you all ♪