Experience the momentous craft of Japanese calligraphy with a calligraphy master
2 hour private experience
Location: Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Offered in Japanese, with a friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in your language
Meet the Master
What you’ll do
Enter the studio classroom of a shodo master and learn about the art and craft of shodo. Then, view works by the master himself and witness a calligraphy demonstration. Finally, practice and create your one-of-a-kind calligraphy masterpiece.
Availability
Everyday
Session 1 (09:00 - 11:00)
Session 2 (11:00 - 13:00)
Session 3 (13:00 - 15:00)
Session 4 (15:00 - 17:00)
Who can attend
Children must be 12+
What"‘s included
Your own work of calligraphy and a piece written by the Master
What to wear
Clothing that you don't mind getting dirty
Access
15 minutes by car from Kanazawa Station
Craft of the Moment
Shodo, or the way of the brush, emerged from the act of sutra copying that accompanied Buddhism in its arrival and development throughout Japan. The act of sutra copying itself was a method to solidify mainland Buddhist teachings, as well as to meditate and to create a space of concentration. With simply a brush and ink on paper, there was no way to change what made its way onto the paper, calling for precision as well as grace. As written characters gained their footholds in Japanese society, so did the evolution of a uniquely Japanese writing style called manyogana, used to represent kanji characters as sounds. Through the development and evolution of such varying writing styles, shodo calligraphy began to be valued as an artform, something which continues to the present day, with beautifully written calligraphy tapestries gracing the tokonoma in tea rooms and homes, and calligraphy pieces being produced to commemorate special occasions. At his studio in eastern Kanazawa, an active calligraphy master from a family of calligraphy masters teaches shodo calligraphy as an artform and as a craft to students of all ages. In shodo as art, this master emphasizes the importance of calligraphy as capturing the moment, an active art that is an expression of the artist themselves, frozen in time. Join this shodo master and try your hand at producing your very own calligraphy masterpiece to take home.
Cancellation Policy
Please make your booking at least 7 days in advance. See cancellation policy here.
A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.
