Japanese calligraphy sits at the essence of traditional Japanese culture, an art where written words become living expression. Shodo, as it is known in Japanese, is artistic writing rendered with both technique and feeling. The craft arrived from China during the 6th and 7th centuries, when the Japanese first learned to make their own brushes, ink, and paper. It soon became an indispensable skill for educated nobles and samurai, and over time the appreciation spread to the wider public. Today it appears not only as fine art but also in New Year cards and other special-occasion writings, fully intertwined with Japanese life.

This experience unfolds under the guidance of master calligrapher Eikaku Matsumura, known for his elaborate and ingenious style. Mr. Matsumura is in high demand in advertising, television, and other fields, and was part of the 2011 film "1,778 Stories of Me and My Wife", where he provided professional guidance to actor Tsuyoshi Kusanagi of SMAP fame. Charming and approachable, he is sincerely eager to make this a unique and memorable encounter with the art.

Eikaku Matsumura comes from a family of calligraphers, with his father and grandfather both practicing the art before him. Determined to follow in their footsteps, he transformed the lessons of many setbacks into a refined sensibility, founded his own school Kyutsurukai in 2008, and developed a distinctive method that draws on his experience in martial arts and music. In 2019 he collaborated with Adidas on the brand's Tokyo Open Source project, creating its first-ever logo expressed through calligraphy and serving as design supervisor. His activities span teaching, workshops, performances, calligraphic logos and titles, and technical guidance for films.