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micasho is...
Award winning Japan based calligraphy artist
I started writing calligraphy when I was 9 years old, following in the tradition of my mother. Since then, calligraphy has been an important aspect of my life. I was fortunate to grow up surrounded by Hokkaido’s prestigious calligraphy culture – many of Japan’s most esteemed calligraphers come from Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. It is a costly art form, consuming both time and money – I am thankful to be able to pursue this art form at such a high level.
I was forced to quit for a while to focus on my studies but quickly returned, missing the senses of meditation and clarity I find when concentrating on my calligraphy. I love these feelings and the entire process associated with creating a piece – making ink from ink stones is one of my life’s favorite, most tranquil moments and it is said that ink‘s smells are good for activating and invigorating our brain.
I have received best in show awards for my calligraphy at various exhibitions. Two notable examples are the top prize at the national Sogen calligraphy competition and grand prize at the Hokkaido calligraphy competition. My works are frequently accepted for nationwide exhibitions. In the end, my calligraphy is not about competitions or prestige – I love writing calligraphy and hope my passion is reflected in my works and conveyed to you, the viewer.
Welcome to the world of Japanese calligraphy.
Calligraphy is an art that captures a moment – a feeling reflected both in the meaning of the written characters and the movement and application of the ink itself. Calligraphy is unique in that there are no second chances on any individual piece, works cannot be revisited. Once the brush is removed from paper ink cannot be reapplied and this moment, captured by the strokes of the calligrapher, is over.
As a medium, calligraphy offers artists multiple tools to convey emotion and meaning. The variations of the ink’s tone and visual depth reflect the speed and pressure of the artists application, drawing the viewer’s eye across the piece just as the calligrapher drew their brush across the paper. The juxtaposition between the artist’s strokes and negative spaces on the pieces serve as reminders that sometimes, what is not said is just as important as what is. Finally, the significance and careful selection of a piece’s Kanji characters (the written, ancient Chinese characters) themselves offers the most obvious means to convey meaning. Writers can choose to reflect or contrast the energy and individualized message of a character in their energy and approach to the ink application process. A writer can make a work conflict or coalesce with it’s character’s significance – either seeking to capture and evoque or contrast the character’s meaning.
Calligraphy, just like the Kanji characters used in both the medium and everyday Japanese writing, originated in China. As calligraphy spread through Japan, it began to develop into new styles unique to Japan. Kinndai Shibunn (近代詩文) is one such style, and is a combination of traditional Chinese Kanji characters and Japanese Hiragana or Katakana. My teacher, Hokumei Nakano (中野北溟), is recognized as one of the great masters of this style. It is said that he started and innovated Kinndai Shibunn style and elevated it into a form of high art. I am lucky to be his pupil.
Calligraphy is steeped in tradition and as such, Calligraphers are typically bound to traditional application processes and mediums.
My teacher
My teacher is 100 year old Hokumei Nakano (中野北溟), one of Japan’s contemporary master calligraphers and the top adviser of Japan’s largest calligraphy society, Mainichi Shodo Kai (毎日書道会). As of 2023, he is 100 years old – because of his position in Mainichi Shodo Kai and his lifetime of skill and technique, he is regarded as the greatest living Japanese calligrapher. His works can be found in prestigious exhibitions across the world such as the English Library, National Museum of China, Guimet Museum and Finnish embassy in Japan etc. Due to his prestige and masterful skill even his smallest, postcard sized works, are valued at ¥300,000 JPY. Even works of this size are masterful and reflect the pinnacle of calligraphy.