Ink Becoming

Sunday evenings growing up were for NHK’s Taiga Drama—a family tradition. Since childhood, I’d quietly vowed: “One day, I’ll create the title calligraphy.” That dream came true with Onna Joshu Naotora. The offer came while I was living in France. I brought just one sample to the interview—and it was chosen on the spot. Naotora’s story, a woman forging her fate in the chaos of the Sengoku era, resonated deeply as I wrote. This became the turning point that brought my name into the public eye across Japan.

It is a great honour to be the first Japanese artist invited to create a work using the prestigious mould collection preserved by the Cast Workshop of the Ateliers d’art du GrandPalaisRmn.

Inspired by the Snake—ushering in the year 2025 in the Chinese zodiac—this piece was brought to life from the mould of Deux Serpents, an original work housed and exhibited at the Louvre Museum.

A fusion of calligraphy and sculpture, the piece was crafted in close collaboration with their master artisans, whose exceptional skill and savoir-faire gave the work its form. With heartfelt joy and deep gratitude, I present this work.

This piece captures the reflection of the Saint-Michel Basilica in Bordeaux’s iconic Miroir d’eau—a moment of stillness and light. Created during a period of emotional uncertainty, it embodies a quiet yearning for hope. In the lower layer, I inscribed the character 「日」 (sun), which forms part of the ancient kanji 「明」 (light), placing 「月」 (moon) visibly above it. Though the sun remains concealed, the concept of 「明」 endures— symbolising two people holding hands in light. Through this calligraphic work, I offer a silent prayer for connection and healing.

The Museum of Modern Art in New York had always been a place of aspiration for me. My performance there, alongside Computer Magic, remains unforgettable. The opportunity came about through a series of miraculous last-minute events—approval from the curator, and insurance finalised the day before. I performed in the sculpture garden, beneath Isa Genzken’s towering Rose II, and it felt like a dream.

A solo exhibition held in Paris, the city of art and beauty. This show was my first attempt to feature works on canvas after previously exhibiting on paper. Working closely with gallerist Mikiko Fabiani, I felt I had finally reached the starting line of a new chapter in my career.

“Art in Resonance” is a moment when space, people, and culture harmonise, and new creativity is born. It was an honour to present the breadth of calligraphy in the refined setting of The Peninsula Tokyo, where Japanese tradition met contemporary sensibility.