VOL.209 NOVEMBER 2025
ENJOYING JAPAN’S MARKETS [Discovering Japan Through the Eyes of Japanese Influencers] Shodo Goes Worldwide

The artist at work
Photo: Atelier BISEN

AOYAGI Bisen is a calligrapher and performing artist. In this month’s issue, she speaks of the spread of calligraphy around the world.

Shodo, or Japanese calligraphy is a traditional art form that Japan takes pride in, and its spirituality and aesthetic sensibility are highly respected around the world. In recent years, international exchange events and other endeavors have helped expand the reach of shodo overseas. As classes and workshops are held in various countries, shodo is capturing attention as an art form that affords hands-on experience of Japanese culture.

I have worked in over 10 countries, carrying out shodo performances, workshops, and exhibitions at venues such as embassies, the Japan Foundation, and universities. People overseas find the scent of ink and the movement of the brush fresh and new, and it is striking how deeply they are moved by the powerful moment when each line is created. In particular, a shodo performance allows audiences to experience both the stillness and dynamism of calligraphy at the same time, making them an accessible form of communication that transcends language.

Moreover, in today’s international society, many people resonate with the idea of expressing one’s heart and spirit through calligraphy. For example, even outside of the cultural sphere of kanji, the idea of instilling spirit into characters or letters shares similarities with meditation¹ and mindfulness.² More and more people are learning shodo as a method for training the mind and the body.

In my overseas activities, I value not only completing a work but also sharing the process. This is because one can feel the essence of calligraphy through the shared experience of the sound of the moving brush, breathing, and the moment the ink is absorbed into the paper.

At the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025³ in September, my calligraphy was featured in the poster design and venue decorations. Since these works were seen by athletes and spectators from around the world, they provided an opportunity for me to dynamically convey the power of calligraphy, traditional Japanese culture, and made me realize that shodo could play a significant role even on the international stage.

Looking ahead, I want to further expand the possibilities of overseas educational programs and exchanges through online platforms. At the same time, I will keep challenging myself to internationally convey the appeal of shodo as contemporary art, under the motto of tradition and innovation.

Shodo is an art that captures the moment. Its universal power transcends borders to resound in people’s hearts. I hope that when visitors from abroad come to Japan, they will be able to experience authentic shodo and appreciate its profound depths.

AOYAGI Bisen
Calligrapher and artist. Began calligraphy study at the age of four. AOYAGI has presented shodo performances in more than 10 countries worldwide. She was the opening act at the Final of the Emperor’s Cup JFA 99th Japan Football Championship at Japan National Stadium in 2020, performing in front of 58,000 spectators. In addition to kigo⁴ at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Mount Koya, she has created numerous calligraphy works and calligraphy titles for artistic works, including CAPCOM’s Monster Hunter Rise; Dororo, a TV anime series based on TEZUKA Osamu’s manga; World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025; as well as works for the VIP room at Japan National Stadium. AOYAGI has also appeared on media programs such as TBS’s Jounetsu-Tairiku (“A Continent of Passion”) and NHK E-TV’s Nihongo de Asobo (“Play with Japanese.”)

• 1. The act of relaxing the brain for repose
• 2. Intentionally directing one’s attention to the present moment and experience, and accepting them as they are, in order to reap mental benefits such as enhanced concentration and self-awareness. Used for mental training and in healthcare.
• 3. The World Athletics Championships held in Tokyo from September 13-21, 2025.
• 4. Writing characters or drawing pictures using a brush. Writing in front of many people is also called sekijo kigo (“writing on-the-spot”).

By AOYAGI Bisen
Photo: Atelier BISEN; The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam; Sakura Collection