On my birthday last month, friends gave me variety of sweets, including some western confectioneries. The choice by one of my long-time friends never misses “bingo!”.
Secretly moist cookies/
Birds are disappearing/
Far into the clouds/
Calligraphy and translation by Chio
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If you have a favorite character or phrase that you would like Calligrapher Chio to write, please let her know by sending it (them) to her address, chio_art@yushokai.com.
A very good friend of mine in Poland who is a super-experienced and respectable teacher kindly displayed my calligraphic pieces at a culinary event she planned for her students. They have fled from their own countries to seek safety.
One day, she asked me to write with a brush some words meaning “enjoy your meal” and what not. Obviously, she thought she would try to please her students and their family who have been having terrible, hard experiences by giving them delightful hours with foods. And responding to her request, I wrote a few pieces and sent them via email.
Now, I am deeply moved to see my calligraphy displayed at the event. Moreover, I was so happy to hear this lovely girl made the panda she is holding and painted the national flag of Japan for me.
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If you have a favorite character or phrase that you would like Calligrapher Chio to write, please let her know by sending it (them) to her address, chio_art@yushokai.com.
Birthdays of my longtime very good friend from high school days and mine are both in June. So, at some point, having a party together in this season became our habitual practice. She is an excellent cook and always brings a lot of good homemade dishes. Moreover, as she is familiar with various things, she often tells me what kind of drinks are popular at the time. As for me, I always just buy something such as slices of raw fish at a nearby grocery store.
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If you have a favorite character or phrase that you would like Calligrapher Chio to write, please let her know by sending it (them) to her address, chio_art@yushokai.com.
Today marks the birthday of my special friend who I have known for a half century now.
She has a lot of knowledge about a variety of things. For instance, when I asked for her favorite character, she told me this interesting looking character “槐” that can be divided to two parts, “tree” and “ogre”.
More than anything, however, she helps me in a very practical manner, such as giving me homemade dishes when I am very sick or in trouble.
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If you have a favorite character or phrase that you would like Calligrapher Chio to write, please let her know by sending it (them) to her address, chio_art@yushokai.com.
I chose a solar term for five days starting today, “紅花栄”, or safflowers bloom in profusion for my calligraphic work. Interestingly enough, “紅花” or literally “scarlet flower” is the name of my important friend. I haven’t had a chance to meet her for a long time unfortunately, though.
How I wish her life be full of good luck and every success in her business!
Here, I also wrote a modern haiku about the flower.
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If you have a favorite character or phrase that you would like Calligrapher Chio to write, please let her know by sending it (them) to her address, chio_art@yushokai.com.
I learned that from today until about the end of October, the Jupiter will be placed where friendship and esperance are symbolized for me. I only sense auguries of good.
Incidentally, the picture stand I use here is from a paperer called Kobaido.
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If you have a favorite character or phrase that you would like Calligrapher Chio to write, please let her know by sending it (them) to her address, chio_art@yushokai.com.
In response to my request for a favorite character or word, a long-time friend of mine from high school days suggested 雅 or gracefulness, elegance or refinement. I thought for a little while how to write this letter and I tried three versions, using three different brushes and three different amounts of impregnated water.
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If you have a favorite character or phrase that you would like me to write, please let me know by sending it (them) to my address, chio_art@yushokai.com.
I wrote these for a long-time good friend. She was very considerate of my mother in her late life. Although many years have passed since we first met, she still sends me seasonal gifts. These are to express thankfulness to her for those presents and wishing good fortune in the future for both of us, I used votive picture tablets as material.
Gratitude
Thinking of you
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If you have a favorite character or phrase that you would like me to write, please let me know by sending it (them) to my address, chio_art@yushokai.com.
The photo shows gifts from my long-time good friend from high school days and her pretty daughter.
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Masks are just what I wanted right now and, moreover, they look so stylish! In the envelope I found other cute, delightful things and a card. Supreme winter gifts! I have no idea how to express my happiness of receiving the presents.
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If you have a favorite character or phrase that you would like me to write, please let me know by sending it (them) to my address, chio_art@yushokai.com.
The other day, I wrote a number of “Friendship” on postcards to send to my friend abroad who is an experienced teacher. This is another “Friendship” in a different style.
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If you have a favorite character or phrase that you would like me to write, please let me know by sending it (them) to my address, chio_art@yushokai.com.
