The opening ceremony of the “Japan-China Calligraphy Art Exchange Exhibition of Hoshi Kodo and Su Shishu—Transmitting the the Essence of Calligraphy with Ink” was grandly held on February 8th at the National Art Center, Tokyo (Roppongi), Japan.

Reported and photographed by Wang Baosheng, Editor-in-Chief of Chinese Cultural Figures.

Hoshi Kodo, a member of the Japan Art Academy and Honorary Advisor of the All Japan Calligraphy Federation, delivered a speech.



Su Shishu, a member of the Standing Committee of the 11th and 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a member of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History, and Honorary Chairman of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, delivered a speech.



Hiroshi Kajiyama, a member of the House of Representatives of Japan, former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and former Minister in Charge of Regional Revitalization, delivered a speech.



Chen Zheng, Minister-Counselor of the Cultural Section of the Chinese Embassy in Japan, read out the congratulatory letter sent by Wu Jianghao, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Japan, for this exhibition.



Ryohei Miyata, former Director-General of the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan and Chairman of the Nitten (Japan Art Academy Exhibition), a public interest incorporated association, delivered a speech.



Su Shishu and Hoshi Kodo expressed their sincere gratitude at the exhibition opening ceremony site to the Chinese and Japanese leaders, artist guests present at the opening ceremony, and people from all walks of life who had strongly supported this exhibition.



Zhao Dong, Secretary of the Party Committee and Executive Director of Rong Bao Zhai, delivered a speech.



Zhao Dong, Secretary of the Party Committee and Executive Director of Rong Bao Zhai, presented the collection certificates to Su Shishu and Hoshi Kodo.



Zhao Dong, Secretary of the Party Committee and Executive Director of Rong Bao Zhai, presented the woodblock watermark paintings of Rong Bao Zhai, namely Hibiscus and Two Birds by Wang Shensheng and Grapes by Wang Xuetao, to Su Shishu and Hoshi Kodo, expressing sincere gratitude.



Hiroshi Kajiyama, a member of the House of Representatives of Japan, former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and former Minister in Charge of Regional Revitalization; Chen Zheng, Minister-Counselor of the Cultural Section of the Chinese Embassy in Japan; Ryohei Miyata, former Director-General of the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan and Chairman of the Nitten (Japan Art Academy Exhibition), a public interest incorporated association; Wang Wan, the wife of Cheng Yonghua, Executive Vice President of the China-Japan Friendship Association and former Chinese Ambassador to Japan; Zhao Dong, Secretary of the Party Committee and Executive Director of Rong Bao Zhai, and other people from all walks of life in China and Japan attended the opening ceremony to congratulate on the successful holding of the exhibition.



This exhibition is another wonderful display in Tokyo, Japan, following the successful holding of the “Japan-China Calligraphy Art Exchange Exhibition of Hoshi Kodo and Su Shishu—Transmitting the the Essence of Calligraphy with Ink” at Rong Bao Zhai in Beijing, China in May 2024. It has received high attention from all walks of society in both China and Japan.



The National Art Center, Tokyo in Japan was filled with distinguished guests. Leaders, guests, and calligraphy enthusiasts from all walks of life in China and Japan gathered together to witness the opening of this art event.



Hiroshi Kajiyama, a member of the House of Representatives of Japan, former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and former Minister in Charge of Regional Revitalization; Chen Zheng, Minister-Counselor of the Cultural Section of the Chinese Embassy in Japan; Ryohei Miyata, former Director-General of the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan and Chairman of the Nitten (Japan Art Academy Exhibition), a public interest incorporated association; Wang Wan, the wife of Cheng Yonghua, Executive Vice President of the China-Japan Friendship Association and former Chinese Ambassador to Japan; Zhao Dong, Secretary of the Party Committee and Executive Director of Rong Bao Zhai; Su Shishu, a member of the Standing Committee of the 11th and 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a member of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History, and Honorary Chairman of the Chinese Calligraphers Association; and Hoshi Kodo, a member of the Japan Art Academy and Honorary Advisor of the All Japan Calligraphy Federation, cut the ribbon for the exhibition.



This opening ceremony is not only the beginning of an exhibition but also a new starting point for cultural dialogue. It has kicked off a wonderful prelude to the subsequent artistic exchanges and discussions, and has also filled people with anticipation for the blending and collision of Chinese and Japanese calligraphy art.



As a top art institution in Japan, the National Art Center, Tokyo has attracted extensive attention from scholars, collectors, and the public of both China and Japan for this exhibition.



The leaders who attended the opening ceremony, as well as the artists and people from all walks of life from China and Japan, took group photos with Su Shishu and Hoshi Kodo to congratulate on the complete success of the exhibition.



Su Shishu introduced his exhibited works to the Chinese and Japanese artists and people from all walks of life who visited the exhibition.



Su Shishu and Hoshi Kodo introduced the exhibited works to the young artists and calligraphy enthusiasts who visited the exhibition, and interpreted the cultural heritage of traditional Chinese calligraphy.



In front of his own exhibited works, Hoshi Kodo introduced the innovative expressions of Japanese calligraphy after absorbing Chinese classics to the artists and people from all walks of life who visited the exhibition.



Hoshi Kodo introduced his exhibited works to the Chinese and Japanese artists and people from all walks of life who visited the exhibition.



Su Shishu and Hoshi Kodo had an exchange and dialogue in front of the exhibited works. They explained to the audience the symbiotic relationship between the calligraphy arts of the two countries, which is “appreciating one’s own beauty while also appreciating the beauty of others, and all beauties can coexist harmoniously”.



Su Shishu introduced the calligraphy and painting works co-created by him and Hoshi Kodo to the artist guests who visited the exhibition.



The “Japan-China Calligraphy Art Exchange Exhibition of Hoshi Kodo and Su Shishu—Transmitting the the Essence of Calligraphy with Ink” has drawn the attention of a large number of calligraphy enthusiasts and professionals from both China and Japan. There is a continuous stream of people visiting the exhibition.



The National Art Center, Tokyo is one of the most important art spaces in Japan and also the most impressive art space in Tokyo Metropolis. Today, it has witnessed yet another grand event in the cultural exchanges between China and Japan. The “Japan-China Calligraphy Art Exchange Exhibition of Hoshi Kodo and Su Shishu—Transmitting the the Essence of Calligraphy with Ink” is being grandly held here.
 

(Edited by Wang Baosheng, Editor-in-Chief of Chinese Cultural Figures) On February 8th, the opening ceremony of the “Japan-China Calligraphy Art Exchange Exhibition of Hoshi Kodo and Su Shishu—Transmitting the the Essence of Calligraphy with Ink” was grandly held at the National Art Center, Tokyo (Roppongi), Japan. The exhibition was hosted by the Japan Shosakuin, co-organized by Rong Bao Zhai and Chinese Cultural Figures Magazine, and supported by various units including Ibaraki Prefecture of Japan, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Japan, the China Cultural Center, The Yomiuri Shimbun, Ibaraki Shimbun, the All Japan Calligraphy Federation, and the Japan-China Cultural Exchange Association.
This exhibition is another wonderful display in Tokyo, Japan, following the successful holding of the “Japan-China Calligraphy Art Exchange Exhibition of Hoshi Kodo and Su Shishu—Transmitting the the Essence of Calligraphy with Ink” at Rong Bao Zhai in Beijing, China in May 2024. The exhibition has received high attention from all sectors of society in both China and Japan. Fukuda Yasuo, the former Prime Minister of Japan, Wu Jianghao, the Chinese Ambassador to Japan, Cheng Yonghua, the Executive Vice President of the China-Japan Friendship Association and former Chinese Ambassador to Japan, and Nishijima Shinichi, a renowned scholar in the study of Japanese calligraphy culture, respectively sent congratulatory letters to the exhibition. They congratulate on its complete success and express the hope that the exhibition will make new and greater contributions to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Japan.
Hiroshi Kajiyama, a member of the House of Representatives of Japan, former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and former Minister in Charge of Regional Revitalization;Chen Zheng, Minister-Counselor of the Cultural Section of the Chinese Embassy in Japan; Ryohei Miyata, former Director-General of the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan and Chairman of the Nitten (Japan Art Academy Exhibition), a public interest incorporated association; Zhao Dong, Secretary of the Party Committee and Executive Director of Rong Bao Zhai; Wang Wan, the wife of Cheng Yonghua, Executive Vice President of the China-Japan Friendship Association and former Chinese Ambassador to Japan; Wang Baosheng, President of Chinese Cultural Figures Magazine; Luo Yuquan, Director of the China Cultural Center in Tokyo; Nishijima Shinichi, a renowned scholar in the study of Japanese calligraphy culture and a calligraphy and painting critic; Chen Xiu, Vice President of the Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Collectors Association; Guo Tongqing, President of the Japan Hanmo Calligraphy Association and Vice Chairman of the All Japan Chinese Calligraphers Association; Guo Yanxi, Honorary Vice President of the Hanmo Calligraphy Association; Huang Jia, Representative Director of Japan Seika Co., Ltd.; Akatsuki Nakano, Managing Director of the Japan-China Cultural Exchange Association; Nobuo Nakamura, a special member of the Nitten and Honorary Professor of the University of Tsukuba; Norio Sugawara, Editorial Committee Member of The Yomiuri Shimbun’s Head Office; Taku Odabe, President of the Federation of Cultural Organizations in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, and Advisor of Ibaraki Shimbun; Yasuo Kaneko, Director of the Secretariat of the Yomiuri Calligraphy Association of The Yomiuri Shimbun; Zhou Zhijiang, a guest calligrapher and painter of the Tōshōdai-ji Temple; Kimitaka Uno, Director of the Fude no Sato Studio; Yoshito Kimura, Secretary of Hiroshi Kajiya, a member of the House of Representatives of Japan; Wang He, Second Secretary of the Cultural Section of the Chinese Embassy in Japan; Dai Jieyi, President of the Overseas Federation of the China Publishing Promotion Association; Su Chengbó, Curator of the Su Shishu Chinese Character Art Museum; Gong Yi, Director of the Exhibition Department of Rong Bao Zhai; Xie Tianlong, Deputy General Manager of Rong Bao Zhai Technology in Beijing; Le Zhenwen, President of the Shanghai Juequn Calligraphy and Painting Academy and a renowned Shanghai-style painter; Zhang Chi, a member of the Shanghai Research Institute of Culture and History and a renowned female painter; Jiang Yongyu, Chairman of the Shanghai Keda Group; Chen Tianhua, Partner of King & Wood Mallesons; Chen Jianzhong, President of the Japan Huangshan Art Company; Yuji Kosaka, Assistant to the Secretary-General of the Japan Cultural Exchange Association; Guan Yong, Council Member of the China-Japan Friendship Association; Wu Chao, Chairman of the Shanghai Wu Changshuo Art Foundation; Liang Zhangkai, Council Member of the Xiling Seal Engraver’s Society; Gao Xiaofei, Chairman of the All Japan Chinese Calligraphers Association; Chen Daming, President of the Tokyo Shanghai-style Calligraphy and Painting Academy; Wang Zhilun, Representative Director and President of Zesong Trading Co., Ltd.; Tan Yujun, Council Member of the Shanghai Wu Changshuo Art Research Association; Su Shishu, a member of the Standing Committee of the 11th and 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a member of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History, and Honorary Chairman of the Chinese Calligraphers Association; Hoshi Kodo, a member of the Japan Art Academy and Honorary Advisor of the All Japan Calligraphy Federation, as well as hundreds of artists and people from all walks of life from both China and Japan attended the opening ceremony.
Hiroshi Kajiyama, a member of the House of Representatives of Japan, former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and former Minister in Charge of Regional Revitalization; RRyohei Miyata, former Director-General of the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan and Chairman of the Nitten (Japan Art Academy Exhibition), a public interest incorporated association; Zhao Dong, Secretary of the Party Committee and Executive Director of Rong Bao Zhai; Su Shishu, a member of the Standing Committee of the 11th and 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a member of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History, and Honorary Chairman of the Chinese Calligraphers Association; and Hoshi Kodo, a member of the Japan Art Academy and Honorary Advisor of the All Japan Calligraphy Federation, delivered speeches one after another. Chen Zheng, Minister-Counselor of the Cultural Section of the Chinese Embassy in Japan, read out the congratulatory letter sent by Wu Jianghao, the Chinese Ambassador to Japan, for this exhibition.
In the congratulatory letter, Ambassador Wu Jianghao stated that calligraphy is a treasured art of the Chinese nation and also an art beloved by the people of both China and Japan. Mr. Su Shishu and Mr. Hoshi Kodo, as representative figures of calligraphy in China and Japan respectively, are widely recognized and respected within the calligraphy circles of the two countries. The two teachers joined hands to plan and hold this exhibition, opening a new chapter in the non-governmental exchanges for calligraphy exchanges and mutual learning between each other. At the end of last year, the governments of the two countries reached ten consensuses on promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges, which pointed out the direction for the development of bilateral relations. Against this backdrop, this exhibition is of great significance for enhancing mutual understanding and deepening friendship among the people of the two countries. It is hoped that the calligraphy circles of the two countries will take this exhibition as an opportunity to make friends through calligraphy, use friendship to promote benevolence, improve together, move forward hand in hand, and contribute to the inheritance and development of outstanding traditional Eastern culture.
In his speech, Hiroshi Kajiyama said that this exhibition brings together the leading figures in the calligraphy circles of Japan and China: Mr. Hoshi Kodo, the President of the Japan Shosakuin, and Mr. Su Shishu, the Honorary Chairman of the Chinese Calligraphers Association. Here below is his remarks. Last year, this exhibition was successfully held in Beijing. This year, we are very honored to invite Mr. Su to Tokyo to participate in this grand event together. The exhibition not only further promotes the exchange and development of calligraphy art between Japan and China, but also is of great significance for promoting the cultural value of the art of calligraphy. For those of us who love calligraphy art, it is truly a great joy. I sincerely wish the joint exhibition of Mr. Hoshi Kodo and Mr. Su Shishu a complete success! I also wish the two gentlemen greater and more brilliant achievements in the field of calligraphy art. And I hope that the two countries will strengthen cultural exchanges through the bridge of calligraphy art, and that their friendship and cooperation will become even closer.
In his speech, Hoshi Kodo said that this joint exhibition of the two of us was successfully held at Rong Bao Zhai in Beijing in May last year. At that time, a grand opening ceremony was held, and many important Chinese figures and friends who love calligraphy came to the scene to enjoy it. All of this was thanks to the strong support of Mr. Su Shishu and Rong Bao Zhai, and I would like to express my deep gratitude here. Today, the successful holding of this calligraphy exhibition at the National Art Center, Tokyo, is inseparable from the support and assistance of people from all walks of life. I would like to express my most sincere gratitude to all of you again. I invite you all to carefully appreciate the exhibited works. We would be most grateful if you could offer your valuable advice and corrections. It will be our great honor and pleasure if this exhibition can contribute to promoting mutual understanding between China and Japan, deepening cultural exchanges, and further strengthening the friendly relations between the two countries.
In his speech, Su Shishu said that calligraphy is a treasured art of the Chinese nation and also a common cultural element between China and Japan. In the friendly exchanges between the two countries, calligraphy exchanges have always played an important role. The two countries commonly use Chinese characters, writing brushes, Xuan paper, and ink, which enables us to have this unique and common art form of calligraphy. It not only reflects the unique Eastern civilization but also testifies to the history of friendly exchanges between China and Japan. Mr. Hoshi Kodo is a renowned calligrapher in Japan, and he is also an elder brother, an old friend, and a good friend whom I deeply admire. He loves China very much and is enthusiastic about cultural exchanges between China and Japan. He has led several delegations to visit China. I feel extremely honored to be able to jointly hold a calligraphy art exchange exhibition with Mr. Hoshi. The foundation of China-Japan friendship lies among the people, and “promoting official relations through people-to-people exchanges” is a tradition of China-Japan friendship. I sincerely hope that through this exhibition, the mutual understanding and friendship between the people of China and Japan can be enhanced, the people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries can be further promoted, and it can play a positive role in promoting the improvement of the relations between the two countries.
At the opening ceremony site, Su Shishu and Hoshi Kodo respectively donated their calligraphy works to Rong Bao Zhai.
In his speech, Zhao Dong said that in 2024, the “Japan-China Calligraphy Art Exchange Exhibition of Hoshi Kodo and Su Shishu—Transmitting the the Essence of Calligraphy with Ink” was successfully held at Rong Bao Zhai in Beijing. It aroused a huge response from all sectors of society and enabled a large number of calligraphy enthusiasts to appreciate a rich variety of exquisite artworks up close. The two outstanding calligraphers, Hoshi Kodo and Su Shishu, donated their carefully created excellent works to our Rongbaozhai for collection. This donation will jointly promote in-depth cultural exchanges between China and Japan and also make outstanding contributions to the inheritance of calligraphy art. The holding of the “Japan-China Calligraphy Art Exchange Exhibition of Hoshi Kodo and Su Shishu—Transmitting the the Essence of Calligraphy with Ink” in Tokyo, Japan this time once again testifies that the calligraphy arts of China and Japan draw on their respective artistic essences during exchanges. It builds a bridge for cultural communication, exchange, and learning for calligraphers of the two countries, and jointly promotes the prosperity and development of calligraphy art in the two countries.
As a special planned exhibition of the “65th Exhibition of the Japan Shosakuin”, this exhibition showcases more than 80 pieces/groups of exquisite calligraphy artworks by Su Shishu and Hoshi Kodo. It vividly presents the vitality and creativity of these two renowned calligraphers from China and Japan in the field of calligraphy art, continues the beautiful story of calligraphy exchanges between China and Japan, and has made positive contributions to promoting the steady and far-reaching development of the China-Japan friendship cause.
Firstly, it deepens the historical bond of cultural exchanges between China and Japan. The calligraphy arts of China and Japan share the same origin but have developed into different branches. Japanese calligraphy has been deeply influenced by Chinese character culture and has developed a unique style throughout history. Through the dialogue presented by more than 80 works of the two calligraphers, Su Shishu (from China) and Hoshi Kodo (from Japan), this exhibition not only showcases the profound heritage of traditional Chinese calligraphy (such as Su Shishu's seal script and running-cursive script works like Ode to Chinese Characters), but also presents the innovative expressions of Japanese calligraphy after absorbing Chinese classics (such as those of Wang Xizhi and Yan Zhenqing) (such as Hoshi Kodo’s personalized creations that integrate Chinese characters and kana calligraphy). This two-way interaction highlights the symbiotic relationship between the cultures of the two countries, which is “appreciating one’s own beauty while also appreciating the beauty of others, and all beauties can coexist harmoniously”. This interaction continues the tradition of calligraphy exchanges between China and Japan that dates back to the Tang Dynasty.
Secondly, it promotes people-to-people friendship and political mutual trust. The exhibition has received support from high-level figures in the cultural and political circles of both China and Japan. Yasuo Fukuda, the former Prime Minister of Japan, not only sent a congratulatory letter to the exhibition but also personally met with Su Shishu, Hoshi Kodo and their entourage in 2024, affirming the positive significance of the exhibition for China-Japan relations. By leveraging art as a medium, the exhibition echoes the backdrop of the 45th anniversary of the conclusion of the China-Japan Cultural Exchange Agreement. It promotes political mutual trust through people-to-people cultural exchanges and injects a warm cultural current into the relations between the two countries.
Thirdly, it explores the contemporary vitality of traditional culture. The exhibition emphasizes the theme of "Transmitting the the Essence of Calligraphy with Ink", that is, the inheritance and innovation of calligraphy art. Su Shishu's works are based on traditional seal script and incorporate modern aesthetics; Hoshi Kodo demonstrates cross-cultural creativity by copying Chinese classics and combining them with the Japanese calligraphy style. Such practices not only inject the vitality of the times into calligraphy art but also provide a model for the younger generation to learn from. During the exhibition, the delegation of 50 people visiting China led by Hoshi Kodo included young calligraphers, which reflects the emphasis placed on the cultivation of successor talents.
Fourthly, it constructs an international art dialogue platform. As a top art institution in Japan, the National Art Center, Tokyo, has successfully held an exhibition that has attracted extensive attention from scholars, collectors, and the general public in both China and Japan. Through the exhibition, the calligraphy circles of the two countries are able to carry out cooperation at multiple levels, such as academic research, technical exchanges, and market promotion.
Fifthly, it echoes the cultural identity in the era of globalization. Against the backdrop of globalization, through calligraphy, which is known as “silent poetry and painting without images”, the exhibition conveys the spiritual core of Eastern aesthetics. During the exhibition, Su Shishu emphasized that “Chinese characters are the foundation of the dissemination of Chinese culture”, while Hoshi Kodo is committed to upholding the tradition of Chinese character calligraphy in the Japanese calligraphy circle where diverse types of fonts coexist. This adherence to cultural roots and the attempt at cross-cultural integration provide enlightenment for dealing with cultural homogenization.
In conclusion, this exhibition is not only a display of artistic achievements but also a milestone in cultural exchanges between China and Japan. Through the medium of calligraphy, it has promoted emotional resonance and cultural mutual learning among the people of the two countries, laying a more solid foundation for future cooperation. As Yasuo Fukuda said, such activities will “become an important page in the history of cultural exchanges between China and Japan”.

(Editors: Zhang Yan, Wang Shunkai)