30th Anniversary of Kawagoe-Salem Sister City Ties: "An-nei" at Hikawa Shrine
From the archive, October 16, 2015: a calligraphy performance celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Sister City Agreement between my hometown of Kawagoe City and Salem City (Oregon, USA).
A commemorative ceremony was held to welcome the delegation from Salem, and I had the honor of performing as an introduction to Japanese culture.
A Solemn Performance at Hikawa Shrine
The venue was the historic Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.
Within the sacred precincts of the shrine, I performed a calligraphy demonstration for our guests from overseas.
"An-nei" (Peace and Tranquility) in the Rain
That day, a light rain was falling. Far from spoiling the event, the drizzle deepened the quiet, mystical atmosphere unique to a Shinto shrine.
With only the sound of rain around me, I wrote the characters 「安寧」 (An-nei), meaning "Peace and Tranquility."
I poured my heart into the ink, wishing for the lasting friendship of both cities and the peaceful lives of their people.
Performing in the rain at a shrine was a rare and spiritually cleansing experience that I will never forget.
A digest video of this performance. Please enjoy the serene atmosphere of the shrine in the rain.
Wishing for the Friendship of Both Cities
It was an honor to deliver Japanese culture through calligraphy at this milestone in the two cities' 30 years of friendship.
My heartfelt thanks to everyone involved for this wonderful opportunity.
You can find more of my performance work on the PERFORMANCE page.
For inquiries about calligraphy performances at ceremonies or cultural exchanges, please feel free to contact me.
