Seiji, a calligrapher in the making

This is a young calligrapher named Seiji doing a calligraphy demonstration. This art appears to be taken very seriously...there is a deep bow given before the calligraphy is begun, and silence falls over the audience as the calligrapher works. Seiji began to help me as I tried my hand at calligraphy, but then had to run...his fans were calling I guess!

The Kumano Brush Festival

September 23rd 2005
Kumano is a small town of about 25 000 people, located about an hour away from Hiroshima City. In this small town, 80% of all calligraphy brushes in Japan are produced. Every year, the town has a brush festival, in which people go to "honour" old brushes and calligraphy is demonstrated. I originally found out about this festival from one of my students, who is from Kumano, and was doing a spe ... read more

Asia » Japan » Hiroshima

In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered in a long period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secure its power. For 250 years this policy enabled Japan to enjoy stability and a flowering of its indigenous culture. Fol... ... read more

Joined	September 17th 2005	Trips	0
Last Login	July 10th 2010	Followers	0
Status	BLOGGER	Follows	0
Blogs	42	Guestbook	72
Photos	473	Forum Posts	0