Writing from the Pure Heart 

Have you ever looked at Japanese scripts (hiragana, katakana and kanji) and thought that you would like to write these characters correctly, and beautifully?

Each of Japan’s three writing systems may appear different, but there are certain key characteristics present in all scripts, especially when writing. These characteristics originating from shodou (calligraphy) include the stroke shapes tome, hane, and harai (stop, hook and stretch). By trying calligraphy just once, you can grasp these key techniques to writing Japanese scripts.

In Japan, it is thought that the heart of a person resides in the characters that they write. Carefully written characters are not only easy to read, but they can show the feelings of the writer as well. In this way, you can demonstrate omoiyari, a consideration towards others.

In this workshop, you will learn the history of shodou in Japan and its place in modern culture. Afterwards, you will use a pen or pencil, to learn the basics, and also have a chance to try calligraphy.

*No experience in Japanese language study required.