Event: World Beat Festival — Bridging Salem and Kawagoe through "Sho"
From the archive, June 30, 2013: we revisit a memorable journey across the Pacific to Salem, Oregon, USA, the sister city of Kawagoe.
Ambassador of "Little Edo"
Chosho Yabe was invited to perform at the World Beat Festival, a multicultural celebration held in Salem. She attended not just as an artist, but as a cultural ambassador representing her beloved hometown, Kawagoe City.
Kawagoe, known as "Koedo" (Little Edo), is famous for its historic warehouse district (Kurazukuri) and traditional textiles like "Kawagoe Tozan." Chosho's mission was to convey the depth of this heritage to the American audience through the dynamic art of Shodo.
Part of the "World Calligraphy Journey"
This project was conducted as part of Chosho Yabe's ongoing life work, the "World Calligraphy Journey." On the festival stage, she performed a powerful calligraphy demonstration, expressing the spirit of Japan to spark interest in Japanese culture.
Workshop: The Joy of "Wa" (Harmony)
Beyond the stage, we hosted a hands-on workshop to let the locals experience Shodo firsthand. For many, it was their first time holding a traditional brush or seeing Kanji characters.
Although initially puzzled by the unfamiliar tools, they challenged themselves to write the character "Wa" (和), which means "Harmony," "Peace," and "Japan." Seeing their hesitation turn into smiles of accomplishment as they enjoyed the flow of ink was a highlight of the exchange.
A Documentary of the Oregon Trip
We have preserved footage of this memorable trip to Oregon. Please enjoy the video below, which captures the heat of the performance and the warmth of the workshop.
World Calligraphy Performance in Salem, Oregon
Calligraphy as a Bridge Beyond Borders
Even without a shared language, a single character born from ink and brush conveys feeling directly. It was a joy to strengthen the bond of our sister-city ties through the art of Sho.
Records of overseas performances and international exchange are gathered on the WORLD ACTIVITY page.
For inquiries about calligraphy performances or workshops at overseas events, please feel free to contact me.
