Calligrapher, artist, professor at Osaka University of Arts, Shishu

Calligraphy is my calling. I found my path through repeated self-questioning every day.

Calligrapher, artist, professor at Osaka University of Arts　Shishu(Embroidery)

■ Profile
He sublimates the traditional Japanese culture of calligraphy into paintings, sculptures, and media art, bringing out the emotions and logic contained within the characters. His works are one-of-a-kind contemporary art that communicate Japanese thought and culture to the world. Overseas, he won the Gold Medal at the Société National des Beaux-Arts exhibition in the basement of the Louvre Museum in France for a work in which calligraphy was fused into a painting, and the highest Gold Medal for a calligraphy sculpture that freed calligraphy from paper and tradition into three dimensions, making him the first Japanese to win two awards. He has been praised worldwide for saying, "Hokusai made the three-dimensional two-dimensional, while Sisyu made two-dimensional calligraphy three-dimensional" (2014).
Shared account: sisyu8 Facebook/Twitter/Instagram

What made you become a calligrapher?

I was just an ordinary university student. Without knowing what I wanted to do, I followed the rules of society and got a job. After joining the company, I had a growing feeling that "this is not the place for me." In the end, I quit after working there for three years.
Then, I began to engage in introspection to consider what it was I should accomplish in life. After letting go of everything and cutting off my escape route, I looked at my true feelings, which I had been suppressing. Exactly 100 days later, deep within me, I found the path of becoming a calligrapher. At that moment, my heart suddenly became lighter and I was enveloped in peace. I trusted this feeling and resolved to become a calligrapher.

■ Thoughts on calligraphy

For me, calligraphy is not something that I find "fun" or "like." "Fun" and "like" are emotions. It is true that many of our actions are influenced by our emotions. On the other hand, human emotions are fickle and change easily.
"It's fun" or "I like it" can instantly change to "It's not fun" or "I don't like it."
For me, calligraphy is something that transcends all of these. Calligraphy is my calling.

■Message to university students

My biggest regret from my university days is that I only talked to people of the same academic ability and age as me, and "didn't talk to adults." There are countless paths and infinite possibilities before you. At the time, I lacked the wisdom and experience to determine which one to choose. But these are things that adults can impart to you. If you can get advice, try something small, and if it works, try something bigger. What happens after this is important. Report the results and your impressions to the person. By doing so, you can receive advice on your next steps. Repeating this process will help you improve your life, grow, and make good choices from the countless paths to the future.
Finally, let's talk about dreams. The dreams you are striving for approach you clothed in the "cloak of difficulties." Difficulties arise from the huge gap between your current self and the stage of your dreams, which may seem so high and out of reach. In other words, the difficulties you face are proof that your dreams are approaching. It might be a good idea to believe that if you keep your head up and don't give in to difficulties, opportunities will surely come your way.

Student Newspaper April 1, 2022 Issue by Sakurako Kojima, 4th year student at Meiji Gakuin University