Ryūha performing calligraphy at an elementary school in Japan.
| Name: | Matsuura Takumi (松浦 巧) |
| Pen Name: | 龍坡 (Ryūha) |
| Birthplace: | Tsurugashima City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan |
| Affiliations: | Founder of Yōsetsubunsha (養拙文社) Permanent Director of the Kenshin Calligraphy Association (謙慎書道会) Director of the Yomiuri Calligraphy Association (読売書法会) Vice-Chairperson of the Japan Kyūryū Calligraphy Association (日本究龍書道会) Seiwa Calligraphy Association (成和書会) |
| Exhibition History: | Japan Arts Exhibition (日展) Yomiuri Calligraphy Exhibition Kenshin Calligraphy Exhibition Nihon no Sho Exhibition (日本の書展) Ien Exhibition (猗園展) Yūzansha Calligraphy Exhibition(有山社書展) Seiwa Calligraphy Exhibition |
| Awards: | Selected 10 times for Japan Arts Exhibition Yomiuri Newspaper Prize (読売新聞社賞) Kenshin Calligraphy Exhibition Shunkyō Prize (謙慎展春興賞) etc. |
Samples of Work
Unknown five-character phrase
Zhou-dynasty seal script
2023-24
Dimensions unknown
Brief History
Saitama prefecture (shown in red).
By TUBS – This SVG map includes elements that have been taken or adapted from this map:, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
My father practiced calligraphy. Because of that, in my youth, I rebelled against calligraphy. I hardly held a brush until two years after graduating from high school, by which time I was a (typical Japanese) salaryman.
Japanese salarymen.
However, I began think that calligraphy could be a way of living one’s life. I entered university, and since then, I have recklessly plunged myself into sho (East Asian calligraphy).
Daitō Bunka University, Tokyo.
By Monthneed – 投稿者自身による著作物, CC 表示-継承 3.0, Link
Further, I met Ushikubo Gojū-sensei (牛窪 梧十先生) while at university.
My thinking at the time was that calligraphy was something one learned by imitating one’s teacher’s and others’ styles of writing. However, through meeting Ushikubo-sensei, I came to know that exploring classics by oneself, learning, and seeking one’s own sho were the foundations of true calligraphy.
Ushikubo Gojū-sensei.
As a consequence, I am pursuing my own path; differently from my father; resolved to seek my own world. I joined Ushikubo-sensei’s school and I am still there.
Not having been exposed to images of stereotypical calligraphy as a youngster, I genuinely believe that I have been able to approach calligraphy without being bound to any particular fixed view.
Even though I say so myself, calligraphy is actually rather interesting.
Detail from a piece by Ryūha.
I will spend the rest of my life seeking my own sho. On top of this, of late, I have often found myself wondering if there is anything (however small) that I can do to help spread the appeal of calligraphy through the world.