The Nippon Club Special Exhibition
The Culture of Writing: Yatate and Beyond

In an age when smartphones and computers allow us to record words instantly, it is easy to forget that people once traveled, worked, and wrote with brush and ink in hand. One small portable writing tool made this possible: the yatate.

A yatate combines a brush and an ink pot in a single object and was worn at the waist. From the Edo through the Meiji period, it was widely used by travelers, merchants, and literary people in daily life. Practical as it was, the yatate was often decorated with refined metalwork and delicate ornamentation, revealing the owner’s taste, way of life, and care for even the smallest tools.

This exhibition presents yatate from the Maruyama Collection, held by the Tsubame City Industrial Archives in Niigata, together with works by three contemporary artists: calligrapher Mohri Suzuki, inkstone craftsman Takashi Aoyagi, and glass artist Reiichi Namatame.
When tools change, writing changes. The time we spend writing can also change the rhythm of our breath and the pace of the mind.

In a world that moves faster each day, what can we rediscover by writing by hand? Through the small yet richly expressive world of yatate, this exhibition looks at the past, present, and future of the culture of writing.

Someone once wore these tools at the waist and took up a brush while traveling. In each small object, we glimpse the owner’s taste and the atmosphere of daily life.

All events are free of charge
* A $15 material fee applies only to the workshop and is payable on the day of the event.
* Events requiring advance registration are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to members and their families.

●Talk & Calligraphy Demonstration

Yatate and Calligraphy: A World of Writing Born from Tools

Speaker: Mohri Suzuki
Date & Time: Thursday, June 25, 6:00-7:30 PM
Admission: Free / advance registration required / priority for members and their families / first-come, first-served

In this talk, calligrapher Mohri Suzuki will introduce the structure, history, and use of the yatate, with photographs showing how it was used. He will also speak about the “Four Treasures of the Study” – brush, ink, inkstone, and paper – the essential tools long cherished in the world of calligraphy.
Calligraphy is not simply the act of writing characters. The movement of the hand, the shades of ink, the texture of paper, and the rhythm of breath come together to create an expression that exists only in that moment.

In today’s world, where words can be typed instantly on a computer or smartphone, the time spent writing by hand has a special meaning. Through the world of yatate and calligraphy, this talk invites us to look again at the origins and present significance of writing.
The program will include a live calligraphy demonstration by Mr. Suzuki.

●Gallery Talk

Speaker: Mohri Suzuki
Date & Time: Friday, June 26, 5:00-6:00 PM
Admission: Free / advance registration required /everyone is welcome

In the gallery, Mr. Suzuki will discuss the appeal of yatate and calligraphy through the works on view. Focusing on pieces from the Maruyama Collection, he will introduce the function of yatate as writing tools, the ingenuity of their decoration, and the continuing culture of writing that connects these objects to calligraphy today.

●Workshop

Calligraphy as a Mirror: Writing Your Name with a Small Brush

Instructor: Mohri Suzuki
Date & Time: Saturday, June 27 1) 11:00 AM-12:30 PM 2) 2:30-4:00 PM
Admission: Free / $15 material fee payable on the day / advance registration required / priority for members and their families / first-come, first-served

Grind ink, take up a small brush, and write your own name. Led by calligrapher Mohri Suzuki, this workshop offers an opportunity to experience Japanese calligraphy culture by writing your name by hand.
Calligraphy is not only about writing beautifully. The movement of the brush, the depth of the ink, and the lines left on paper naturally reflect the breath and state of mind of the person writing. To write one’s own name is also to spend a quiet moment facing oneself.
Beginners are warmly welcome. No Japanese language or calligraphy experience is required. The finished work may be taken home as a one-of-a-kind personal signature.

Step away from the rush of daily life and enjoy a moment of Japanese writing culture through the scent of ink and the feel of the brush.

Mohri Suzuki
Calligrapher. Born in Tokyo in 1984. Guided by the principle “when the heart is correct, the brush is correct,” he pursues calligraphy that values not only technique but also the state of the heart. He has shared his work internationally, including at the Milan Expo.

Takashi Aoyagi
Inkstone craftsman and fourth-generation head of Houkendo, a long-established calligraphy-tools house. He carves inkstones through close dialogue with stone.

Reiichi Namatame
Glass artist. Born in Miyagi in 1980. He shapes life and plants in glass, creating works that explore themes of environment and diversity.

Organized by: The Nippon Club
Sponsored by: J.C.C. Fund
In cooperation with: Tsubame City Industrial Archives, Houkendo Co., Ltd., and TOP Factory Inc.
Supervised by: Mohri Suzuki
Curated by: Shoko Hayashi