I am now trying to sort out my works from the past. And in doing so, I found this one, which I have completely forgotten. The movement of the brush gives awkwardness from youth. In fact, I don’t use this seal under my signature any more.
The letters mean poetic gracefulness.
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This wooden box cup for drinking sakéor Japanese wine was a souvenir for the hundreds of party participants that got together to celebrate longevity of my first calligraphy teacher, the late Mr. Akiyama Kodo （秋山公道）who enjoyed a long life. He himself wrote two Chinese characters of good omen on each cup.
So, again, here’s to the art and culture of calligraphy!
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Elderly people sometimes say the spirits of the ancestors come back home from the afterworld guided by the red Chinese lantern fruits. I hope they have already arrived here safely for the Bon Festival or the Buddhist Festival of the ancestral spirits.
Inside the Chinese lantern fruit/
Scarlet universe may exist/
Translation and calligraphy by Chio
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This is no “fancy” restaurant at all, but I was happy to chat with one of my good old friends who had been hospitalized for a considerable period because of a serious injury. The truth is, however, she still has pain in the leg. Despite this, I heard she resumed practicing ping-pong, her greatest pastime. And I admire her positivity.
Cicadas are out (and noisy)/
My friend is also out of the hospital/
We celebrated with red wine/
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As a little, humble present for the temple we follow and support, I asked my mother to write one letter on a paper fan, a hiragana (Japanese syllabary character). The letter is the first one of the temple’s name. As my mother turned 91 years old last month and is rapidly forgetting various things, I showed her what to write.
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Looking after an old parent is no easy task, even if you are dealing with your own mother.
According to the old lunar calendar, today marks the first day of autumn.
Unleashing love-hate/
To mom/
Autumn begins/
Translation and calligraphy by Chio
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This was the task for today’s practice session.
It is a large-scale poem from the ancient Japan with motifs of sky, star, moon and cloud…
When remaking on my work, our teacher said to me something like, “If the ink goes blur, let it blur to the end.” In other words, I was too timid and impatient.
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Holding a brush
Young children, elderly people, ailing people…practically anyone can hold a brush and write. I am sure this is the wisdom of the Orient.
A longtime good friend of mine from high school days took the photo for me to post on my “shops” on eBay and Etsy.
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They say cicadas begin shrilling right after the rainy season is over. How true that is! And it makes you realize summer is about to reach its peak.
First shrilling of the cicadas of the year’s summer/
I wish that/
Wishing pays off/
Translation and calligraphy by Tomoko
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As my first calligraphy teacher (秋山公道the late Mr. Akiyama Kodo) and my mother were both born in the year of dragon, I like visiting shrines associated with dragons.
Yesterday, I went to Shinsenen Shrine. It was a beautiful place full of agreeable atmosphere. I felt pleasant breeze blowing but unfortunately, I didn’t feel existence of dragons around, which some people with supernatural power may feel.
The photo shows my work of the letter 龍or dragon and a passage on the written oracle I got there.
Just outside your eaves/
It maybe storming/
But/
Inside your house/
Is springlike warmth/
Translation by Tomoko
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