I was able to participate in a Japanese calligraphy session and a Nohgaku performing art workshop during my stay at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology as a visiting professor Fulbright Scholar. Shu-ren, a professional calligrapher and sister of one of my colleagues, taught us “shodo,” the long-standing art in Japan of creating kanji characters. Shodo calligraphy uses a long brush tipped with hair that is dipped in ink to apply thick strokes onto the paper.
I was also able to participate in Nohgaku, a traditional Japanese performing art that combines the lyric drama noh and the comic theater kyōgen.
Calligraphy
In class, we practiced Japanese calligraphy and painted kanji characters, each representing a meaning of a word. I chose “kokoro” (heart), a symbol that has been meaningful to me since childhood (Keri’s symbol is a star—our matching bikes or purses would be distinguishable by stickers with our symbols).
We also painted “yama” (mountain), incorporating meditation into each stroke as we reflected on mountains that held personal meaning. For me, it was Denali in the Alaska Range, recalling our three years of living in Alaska during our U.S. Air Force active duty service. A classmate from Pakistan chose K2, the highest mountain in Pakistan.
As a professional calligrapher, Shu-ren creates calligraphy for temples, banks, companies, and more. Currently living in Kyoto, she started learning calligraphy at age 6 and studied rigorously. She is the sister of one of my colleagues at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. See her beautiful work on her website.
Nohgaku Theater
Nohgaku, a traditional Japanese performance designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, combines two forms: Noh and Kyōgen. Noh is a musical and dance drama with masked performers expressing emotions through stylized movements. In contrast, Kyōgen is a comedy that depicts everyday life, performed without masks.
Nohgaku has been passed down from generation to generation for more than 650 years since the Muromachi periods. I had the privilege of watching Isa Takeda, a Nohgaku performer and daughter of generations of Nohgaku performers. She guided us into the Reiwa era to chant and feel the movement together—a truly immersive experience! We slid across the room in our socks.
