Activities

書道（Calligraphy, Sho-do)

Would you like to take a peek into the world of Japanese characters through calligraphy?
Calligraphy unifies the mind and is connected to Zen. Complete your work in an hour's lesson!
Since we will be using ink, please wear clothes that you don't mind getting dirty.

STEP１

① Hold the brush vertically. Start by practicing drawing lines with good posture.

STEP2

②Practice Tome, Harai, and Hane

STEP3

③Use the results of your practice to try your hand at writing the kanji for “water”!

STEP4

④Look at the model and concentrate on writing. By practicing, you will gradually become better at writing.

STEP5

⑤Finally, try writing your own name. Japanese has three writing systems: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Start by practicing katakana. Then hiragana. Finally, try kanji! Kanji is difficult, but you can learn to write it by practicing.

Choju-Giga 鳥獣戯画

Anyone can draw the Choju Jinbutsu Giga once they get the hang of it. Why not try drawing the Choju Jinbutsu Giga, said to be the oldest manga in Japan?

STEP１

①First, practice by looking at the example. It’s a rabbit and a frog. The key is to remember the shapes! Have fun drawing them as if you were doodling.

STEP2

②As you get used to it, you will be able to arrange your own designs without looking at the example. Once you feel more confident, you can start thinking about the design you want to put on the tenugui.

STEP3

③Try writing down different letters to get some ideas. Once you’ve decided on the design, it’s time to make the tenugui!

STEP4

④Tenugui feels different from paper, but you can still make use of the bleeding effect. There’s no way to fail! Think of it this way, and give it your all.

STEP5

⑤A wonderful tenugui is complete! Thank you for your hard work!

紋切り（Monkiri)

Monkiri-asobi is a traditional game that has been enjoyed since the Edo period. It involves cutting out family crests, plant motifs and the like, and is an art form that can be enjoyed with just paper and scissors.

STEP１

①Monkiri-asobi is a traditional paper-cutting game that has been popular since the Edo period, in which players cut out patterns such as family crests.

STEP2

② First, fold the paper to make it easier to cut out the crest. Once you learn how to fold it in thirds, fifths, etc., you will be able to cut out various crests easily.

STEP3

③ Once you have made the folds, cut out the pattern to fit the paper. For simple patterns, just draw them according to the sample.

STEP4

④Cut carefully along the lines of the pattern. If you want to add a little variation, you can make original patterns by cutting into the places where there are no lines. Have fun experimenting with different designs.

うちわ（Uchiwa)

Decorate your fan with calligraphy or monkiri and create your own original fan. There are brush calligraphy and monkiri courses available.

STEP１

①うちわは紋切りや筆文字でオリジナルデザインしたうちわを作ります。

STEP2

②型紙通りに切ることで様々な文様を作り出すことができます。
三つ折り、五つ折りの折り方を覚えましょう。
まず紋切りあそびを楽しんでください。

STEP3

③様々な紋切りから自分の好みのものを選び、うちわに貼り付けます。
全体を貼るだけでなく、大胆にカットしたり、組み合わせることで様々なデザインができます。
世界でたった一つのうちわを完成させましょう。

STEP4

④文字を書く場合は、まずは半紙に文字をデザインします。
文字のデザインも工夫すると楽しいですよ。

柿渋(Kakishibu)

渋柿の果汁から作られる塗料で日本固有の自然素材です。
塗り重ねることにより光沢や色味が増し、羊皮紙のような風合いとなります。

Kakishibu-1（Bookcover-course）　時間：2H　料金：5000円／人

STEP１

①クラフト紙にオリジナルはんこを押して、柿渋を塗り重ねて作るブックカバーです。

STEP2

②オリジナル和柄はんこを自由におして、自分だけのデザインを作ってみましょう。

STEP3

③ はんこでデザインをしたら柿渋を塗り重ねます。しわ加工をするときは塗る前にしわをつけます

STEP4

④ 塗ったら乾かしながら、1枚につき３～４回ずつ塗り重ね、色を深くしていきます。お好みの色になったら完成です。

雅印(Gain/Hanko)

名前や好きな言葉をハンコにすることができます。
作品を引き締める雅印は、普段づかいのサインとしても重宝します。

STEP１

①自分の名前の一字、彫りたい文字の字体を調べてデザインする。

STEP2

②字体をデザインしたら転写して彫刻刀で彫る

STEP3

③ 全体の形を彫ったら、押印して線の太さや彫り残しなどを確認、気になる箇所を修正して形を整える

STEP4

④ 墨のにじみなどを利用して、アート書に挑戦。いつもの書にとらわれず、楽しく作品を書いてみましょう。気に入った作品に作成した雅印を押して作品を完成させる。

STEP5

⑤ 文字だけでなく、オリジナルマークになるようなイラストをハンコにしても楽しいですね♪

墨アート(Sumi Art)

Sumi art allows you to take advantage of the ink’s bleeding and blurring effects and challenge yourself to create a variety of works. Once you know how to use ink, you can create original sumi-e works. *For customized courses, please contact us.