In my previous posting, I introduced that Japanese new year’s customs –Kakizome- the first writing of the new year with Japanese writing brush (fude 筆) and ink(sumi墨). People commonly write new year’s resolutions, auspicious words and poems for celebrating new year.
The 59th Kakizome competition and exhibition of Japan took place at Nippon Budokan in February 2023.
Nippon Budokan, maybe, no need to explain, the central organization hall for the promotion of Japanese Budo武道 (ex. Judo柔道, Kendo剣道, Kyudo弓道,Aikido合気道, Karate空手, Sumo相撲, and so on). Furthermore, it is also a well-known place where is legendary, prestigious live concerts hall. Famous musicians have been holding their live concerts at Budokan since 1964, like The Beatles, Cheap Trick, Kiss, Aerosmith, Eric Clapton, Guns N’ Roses, etc. (excuse me, I am a huge hard rock, heavy metal fan!)
http://nipponbudokan.or.jp/english
At that time, there was the award ceremony and an exhibition for the winners of 59th Kakizome competition.
The appreciation of a work of calligraphy depends on the beauty of expression, theme selection, writing style, meaning of the words or poems.
Calligraphy has been more highly respected as an art in China, Korea and Japan for a long time, because of the complexity of the Kanji character. In Japan, They are often displayed at Tokonoma(Japanese alcove) as the main theme of Kakejiku.
The awards judgement have been made by each sponsor like news paper companies, governmental organizations, cultural organizations, thief of municipals. The evaluation criteria is based on brush strokes, letter structure, gradation of light and shade of sumi, arrangement, letter alignment. Every letter should be unified as one worldview by using a one washi和紙(hanshi) 半紙paper,bunchin文鎮, suzuri硯, shitajiki下敷.
Shodo has basic 5 figures of writing Kanjis, 篆書(Tensho)、隷書(Reisho)、草書(Sosho)、行書(Gyosho)、楷書(Kaisho).
As I mentioned before, writers have a tendency to select new year’s resolutions, happy auspicious words, old Chinese poems, Japanese old proverbs for their writing themes.
Everyone feel happy for watching Childrens’ kakizome in January.
Also, I was really impressed when I stood in front of artistic shodo works by professionals, even amateurs, those shodo works were…beyond description!
