Japanese calligraphy is at the essence of traditional Japanese culture. Why not try your hand at the art?

“Shodo,” or Japanese calligraphy, is artistically written words, written in a style that is both artistic and emotionally driven. The art of calligraphy was handed down from China during the 6th and 7th centuries, at which time the Japanese learned how to make brushes, ink, and paper. Soon after its introduction, it became an indispensable skill for educated nobles and samurai, the leaders of Japan. Over time, the appreciation spread to the general public, and now can be found not only as works of art per se, but also in things such as New Year's cards and other special occasion writings. The art has been fully intertwined with Japanese life.

The calligraphy experience we offer here, under the guidance of the master calligrapher Eikaku Matsumura, will allow you to learn about and then experience calligraphy first hand. Mr. Eikaku Matsumura, known for his elaborate and ingenious style, is extremely well regarded and in high demand in advertising, television, and other fields. He was also a part of the 2011 film "1,778 Stories of Me and My wife,” where he provided professional guidance to the singer and actor Tsuyoshi Kusanagi of SMAP fame. Best of all, Mr. Eikaku Matsumura is a charming and approachable master, sincerely eager to facilitate a unique and memorable Japanese experience for you!

① Meeting with the Guide

Meet the guide at the ticket gate of Umeyashiki Station and move to the Workshop place.

② Workshop Overview

Introduction and a brief demonstration by Instructor Mr. Matsumura.

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Practice drawing horizontal lines with a brush (10 minutes)

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Practice writing the kanji character for " three / 三 " with a brush (10 minutes)

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Practice writing the kanji character for " ten / 十 " with a brush (10 minutes)

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Practice writing the kanji character for " thirty / 三十 " with a brush (10 minutes)

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Write one to two kanji characters of your choice. Typically, guests choose to write a single kanji character based on the sound of their name. Practice on washi paper for about 20 to 30 minutes, and finally, write it on colored paper (10 to 20 minutes).

Eikaku Matsumura / 松村栄鶴

Calligraphy Artist / Founder of Kyukaku-kai

Eikaku Matsumura comes from a family of calligraphers—both his father and grandfather practiced the art. Determined to follow in their footsteps, he embraced calligraphy and transformed the lessons learned from various setbacks into a refined sensibility. By developing his own unique method, he founded Kyutsurukai in 2008. Matsumura integrates know-how acquired from his experiences in martial arts and music into his teaching and artistic practice. His innovative approach has led him to continuously explore the boundaries of calligraphy. Since his first solo exhibition in 2010, he has consistently showcased his work in various exhibitions. In 2019, Matsumura collaborated as an artist on Adidas's Tokyo Open Souce project. In this groundbreaking venture, he created Adidas’s first-ever logo expressed through calligraphy, and he also served as the design supervisor for the project.

Activities include teaching classes, conducting workshops, performing, producing calligraphic logos and titles, and providing technical guidance in films, among other endeavors.