Japanese Calligraphy Workshop with wagashi and matcha - 14:00 to 16:00

Youna Matsushita started practicing Japanese calligraphy when she was just 8 years old. By 23, she had earned her teaching license, showing her dedication to the art. After working as an architectural engineer, she decided to follow her passion and became a full-time calligrapher at 28.

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Today, Youna lives in the peaceful Yatsugatake Mountains. She’s building her own home there and creates beautiful calligraphy inspired by nature. Her style is bold yet delicate, free-spirited, and full of life—breaking away from traditional rules. Her unique approach has touched people all around the world, inspiring others to see the beauty and freedom in Japanese calligraphy.

Mika Kobayashi is a Japanese calligrapher based in Berlin, originally from Tokyo, who began practicing shodō at the age of six. Her work has been exhibited at institutions including the National Art Center in Tokyo.

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In Berlin, she was inspired by the deep interest in Japanese aesthetics and began sharing her practice with an international audience.

In 2024, she advanced her studies in Saga Goryu calligraphy—an imperial tradition founded by Emperor Saga and headquartered at Daikaku-ji Temple in Kyoto, known for its refined balance, harmony, and contemplative beauty. She became a disciple of calligrapher Suiko Simon and received the art name Kyosui（京萃）.

Her workshops approach calligraphy as a meditative and philosophical art, inviting participants to engage with it beyond form and gesture.