CALLIGRAPHY COMPETITION 2021
Shodo Canada is very happy to host the 14th Japanese Calligraphy Competition in Canada . Through the wide changes and unpredictable circumstances of 2021, the competition has gladly received enthusiastic entries from Calligraphers across Canada. And Shodo Canada itself has enjoyed generous support in Canada and Japan to help us preserve this wonderful opportunity for advancing the art of Japanese Calligraphy in Canada. In 2020, we hosted our first Online exhibition which was a big success and brought the joy of calligraphy to viewers not only across Canada, but also all over the world. We are glad to be back online this year for our second virtual exhibition. In this virtual exhibition we hope you will discover the beauty of Japanese Calligraphy, enjoy the variety of Japanese Calligraphy and you will glimpse the future of Japanese Calligraphy.
KENZABURO DATE MEMORIAL AWARD
This prize award is dedicated to the memory of late Mr. Kenzaburo Date who loved Japanese Calligraphy and received Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards and honorable mention citations in this competition. This year’s winning piece A Bouquet of Flowers is a powerful piece that evokes the image of flowers through an incredible control of brushstrokes, and demonstrates the vast range of emotions that a single brushstroke can embody.
◀ SUE CHEN
A Bouquet of Flowers
Toronto, ON
DR. RICK NISHIKAWA MEMORIAL AWARD
This award is dedicated to the memory of the late Dr. Rick Nishikawa who shared his irresistible enjoyment of Japanese Calligraphy with many people. This year’s winning piece is an original poem, expressing the beauty of the Northern Lights through its linguistic and calligraphic articulations.
◀ CELINE LAUMONT
My Original Poem:
North of Prince George
Victoria, BC
GOLD AWARD
The Gold award celebrates pieces which demonstrate the beauty of Japanese Calligraphy and exhibit sophisticated quality. These six different approaches to Japanese Calligraphy chosen for the award showcase high quality exemplary of recognition.
▲RACHEL JEE
Deep in the Heart, One Must
Waterloo, ON
▲PHUONG-MAI NGHIEM
Not Knowing
Toronto, ON
▲NATALIA TEPLOVA
Poem by Kobayashi Issa
Montreal, QC
▲YUKIKO YABUTA
Above and Beyond Your Goal
Markham, ON
▲PENNY ULSTER
Reverence to the Mystic Law of the Lotus Flower Sutra
Toronto, ON
▲CHIEKO YUKI
Thank You
Scarborough, ON
SILVER AWARD
The Silver award celebrates pieces which showcase the wide variety of expressions achievable through Japanese Calligraphy. This year, each of the seven chosen pieces show their dedication to the art of Japanese Calligraphy that is reflected in their beautifully refined final works.
▲NATSUKI ABE
Flower will Bloom - 3.11 Earthquake Reconstruction Song
Vancouver, BC
▲MAYAKO KOBAYASHI
Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining
Waterloo, ON
▲YASUKO SHIMURA
Bring One Hundred Happiness
Scarborough, ON
▲YUJIRO FUJII
Run like the wind!
Waterloo, ON
▲TOMOYO AKIYAMA
Being Indifferent and Forget the Prosperity
Longueuil, QC
▲NORIKO SAITO
Poem by Dainagon Kintou in Hyakunin Isshu
Toronto, ON
▲BEVERLY SING
Kokin Wakashu, Poems 1091 and 1092
Montreal, QC
BRONZE AWARD
The Bronze award celebrates high achievement in the literary dimension of Japanese Calligraphy. The seven pieces chosen to receive this year’s award represent the variety that is present in the discipline of Japanese Calligraphy, that moves between the traditional and the contemporary.
▲SUSAN KEENE
Nature and Creativity are Inseparable by Basho
Toronto, ON
▲SALVATORE SPATAFORA
Like a Moving Cloud, Like Floating Water
Toronto, ON
▲KATHRYN TAMAKI
Shooting Star
Toronto, ON
▲TAMAO KUZUYA
Flower
Markham, ON
▲YUMIKO MIYAMOTO
Poem by Issa
Toronto, ON
▲KAORI TADA
Shooting Stars
Waterloo, ON
▲HEEJUNG WOO
Calligraphy is a Flower Blossomed from One's Heart
Victoria, BC
HONORABLE MENTION
Japanese calligraphy is an art in which the process of its creation becomes discernible in the final work. The honorable mention category is a special category for this exhibition. These twenty eight pieces all have their own unique stories, styles, and senses of enjoyment. The diversity of these works is the ultimate showcase of Japanese Calligraphy in Canada.
▲KIEREN BUDHIA
Restrain Mantra for 2021
Montreal, QC
▲AKIYO DE VROOME
Spirit
Vancouver, BC
▲MARIE IKEDA
Poem by Shiki about Persimmons
North York, ON
▲MARGARET ISHII
As a Ship Lightens its Load; Don't ask for Other People's Help
Toronto, ON
▲STEVE KENNEY
Heave and Earth
Kitchener, ON
▲STUART POLLOCK
My Wish Has Been Granted
Toronto, ON
▲AYUMI TAKAI
Resilience of the Dandelion
Toronto, ON
▲SUMIKO SAITO
How Much Silver, Gold and Jewels Are There? No Treasure is Far From a Child
Toronto, ON
▲KENTARO NAKAMURA [Youth]
Poem of Santoka
Richmond Hill, ON
▲MONAMI YABUTA [Youth]
Love You Lots
Toronto, ON
▲KAM YING CHAN
Don't be Afraid, Just Believe
Waterloo, ON
▲ELIZABETH ELSTNER
Riding a Cow and Looking for a Cow
Waterloo, ON
▲TERESA ISAACS
Flower
Whitby, ON
▲EDUARD DIVANTMAN
Patience is a Flower that Doesn’t Grow in Every Garden
Maple, ON
▲LISE LUSSIER
Once a Beauty, Now a Skull
Montreal, QC
▲YUKARI SNYDER
Butterfly
Ottawa, ON
▲PETER WAKAYAMA
Ganbarou
Toronto, ON
▲FRED THOMPSON
What the Actor Does Not Say is of Interest .
Elora, ON
▲KIYOMI SAKAGUCHI [Youth]
Rainbow
Whitby, ON
▲WILLY CHENG
Poem by Issa
Toronto, ON
▲TAMIKO FRENCH
1978 Memoirs
Burlington, ON
▲MASOUD JELOKHANI-NIARAKI
Mountain Fog
Elora, ON
▲PAUL JEWETT
These Fireflies so Like the Moon in all the Paddies
Toronto, ON
▲DOREEN OYAGI
Hope
Don Mills, ON
▲GAYLE TAGUCHI
Sun and Moon
Toronto, ON
▲YOKO KOBAYASHI
Poetry about Sakura -Yosano Akiko
Caledon, ON
▲AKITO SAKAKIBARA [Youth]
Soar . .
Verdun, QC
▲ASUKA YAMADA [Youth]
Good Luck Clouds
Waterloo, ON
GRAND CATEGORY
This special grand category has been established to recognize a select few calligrapher’s enduring devotion to the art of calligraphy. Recipients of this honor have been awarded the Gold award or other special award in this competition at least three times. These calligraphers are leaders of Japanese Calligraphy in Canada. Their pieces represent the standard of excellence to be pursued by following generations of calligraphers in Canada.
