YOSHIKO SAKUMA
Practicing Calligraphy and Acting are
Both “Ichigo-Ichie” (Once in a Lifetime Experience),
in my Humble Opinion
With her genuine gracefulness, Yoshiko Sakuma has been a front-running actress in Japan for almost 50 years. At the same time, she is also known as a top-rated calligraphy artist. At her first calligraphy exhibition in New York at The Nippon Gallery last December, she elegantly shared her sentiment towards calligraphy with Chopsticks NY.
What was your impetus to start doing calligraphy?
I began practicing calligraphy when I was a child, and I loved it. Once my calligraphy teacher suggested, “Put your work in the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition.” So I did and it won a prize. I think that experience caused me to become more serious about calligraphy.
Was that after you debuted as an actress?
Of course. It was a busy time for me, but I loved to practice calligraphy and when I had time off from work I wrote the character “yume” (dream) 800 times. Each of the 800 papers was the size of one tatami mat.
[surprise] 800 times, and each one the size of a tatami mat?
Yes, and by chance one of them made the cut for the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition. When that happened, I once again had the feeling of wanting to practice calligraphy. However, work became busy and I wasn’t able to devote much time to it. So there were considerable periods when I wasn’t able to write. But when I was done with whatever project I was working on, I would go to the mountains to take a breather and practice calligraphy. The pieces that I was able to create there by using sumi (ink) made with spring water were totally different than what I had been producing in Tokyo. More so than in Tokyo, it was as if the characters that I wrote in the midst of the mountain air were dried by nature and the ink’s nijimi (running) and kasure (fading) were different and it had a different teri (luster). For this reason, when I was able to take a vacation I used my time in this way. Those works that I have accumulated are what I brought for the current exhibition.
What do you think is the appeal of Japanese calligraphy?
Washi (Japanese paper) and sumi, these are absolutely beautiful things. This is Japanese beauty. There is also the beauty that comes from mixing together various colors, but for me what it comes down to is the beauty of black and white. That is what I like.
There are also shades, and before you mentioned the ink’s nijimi and kasure and its teri. Can you elaborate what this last one means?
Teri is gloss/sheen. This may be hard to understand, but sumi is not just black, it has a shine to it.
When you said that practicing calligraphy in Tokyo was different from in the mountains, were you referring to your feelings as well?
Yes, the polluted air of the city and the clean air of the mountains are totally different. Because calligraphy is a living thing, it comes out differently depending on where it is created. As actors, we do a certain role on stage or screen but you can never produce the same performance twice. Also, one person cannot put together a performance by herself; you have costars, support staff and your condition at the time, and all of this comes together to create it. Just as each time is a little different for acting, you can also never produce the same calligraphy twice. While writing, you might think you are satisfied, but as I said before, your work is being dried in nature so that even if you thought you did a great job it might come out to be something totally different from what you expected. It is “ichigo ichie” (a once in a lifetime encounter), so to speak. It can be said to be a challenge, and this feeling of making a wager is what I like.
Earlier you mentioned that you would do calligraphy when you had down periods, but can I assume this means refreshing yourself is necessary to move on to the next step?
Yes. When one acting project is done, when one piece has been finished, I do calligraphy to really refresh and relax myself and be ready to tackle new work.
I’m sure you pick the words that you write, but what kind of words do you choose?
This time I don’t have a specific theme. So I have kana as well as hieroglyphic characters called kinmoji. I have brought together words from a variety of genres without restricting myself to one.
What is the highlight of this exhibition?
Well, there are a lot of works, but this time I thought of them as not just calligraphy but as pieces of art. Meaning that in the end I thought of calligraphy itself not as something set in stone but as something I want to be artistic as well.
Would you tell us about your current acting projects?
Last year I performed two big works on stage. One was a Greek tragedy and the other was a work from Yukio Mishima, and they both kept me very busy. So I feel like this year I want to concentrate on calligraphy.
You’ve had a long career as an actress, but what role would you like to play in the future?
That kind of question…I’ve already performed in too many roles! There’s nothing that I would particularly pick; I would like to carry out what is given to me.
What advice do you have for people who are thinking of starting calligraphy?
First of all, you can’t do calligraphy unless you love it. Just because someone recommended it to you, or you feel like you should do something…if those are your reasons you shouldn’t do it. Doing what you love is the best. That is how things start.
Many Chopsticks NY readers want to visit Japan. What are some places or events that you recommend?
Nara is wonderful; it has a deep history. Kyoto is also nice, but I would recommend walking around Nara because this city is the very spot where Japanese history began. I often visit and I find that it’s a very profound place. As I’ve gotten older I’ve especially thought that about Nara.
Meaning the more you go, the more you appreciate it?
Yes. Spring has its nice qualities as does fall, but summer is a bit hot [laughs].
———– Interview by Noriko Komura and translated by Stacy Smith
YOSHIKO SAKUMA Born in Tokyo. Toei Film Studio found her talent when she was a high school student, and ever since, she has been high profile actress in Japan for about 50 years. Although she started out from film, her career has expanded to TV and stage as well. Her performing repertoire ranges from contemporary to period pieces and from Japanese to western pieces. Notable performances among many include; “Gobancho Yugiri-ro” (film), “The Makioka Sisters” (film and stage), and “Onna Taikoki,” (one-year series TV drama).
Japanese Calligraphy– Playing with “Sho”
@ The Nippon Gallery
“Sho” or traditional Japanese calligraphy is the art form of writing letter(s) by brush stroke on paper using sumi (ink). It has many different styles and techniques that make the world of “sho” so intriguing and profound.
“Playing with ‘Sho,’” the exhibition held last December, highlighted two notable calligraphy artists, Yoshiko Sakuma and Ryokan Ara. As featured in this interview, Yoshiko Sakuma is an actress who is fascinated by “sho” and explores its insightful world. Ryokan Ara, a Buddhist priest, currently serves as principal of Tendai-Shu Hawaii Kaikyo as well as establishing Hawaii Museum and Hawaii Gakuin Japanese Language School.
The Nippon Gallery at The Nippon Club
145 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019
TEL: 212-581-2233 / info@nipponclub.org
"J-Culture" Strikes!
