Calligraphy Unbound: Design Your Story in Ink – KYOTO

Tour summary

Design Calligraphy is not your traditional calligraphy lesson—it’s an expressive, imaginative journey guided by a certified calligrapher with a background in design.

Step into the serene yet vibrant world of Design Calligraphy—an out-of-the-box artistic experience guided by a certified Japanese calligrapher with a design background. This is not about perfect strokes or rigid tradition. It’s about unlocking your imagination, letting your right brain lead, and discovering your unique expressive voice through ink.

No prior experience is needed—just curiosity and a willingness to let go.

This is more than a calligraphy lesson. It’s a journey into personal expression, cultural beauty, and the joy of letting go.

In detail

In this immersive workshop, you’ll explore the art of writing from the inside out.

After a warm welcome and a tour of the master’s atelier, you’ll connect with your fellow guests and begin the ritual of grinding ink—a meditative process that sets the tone for creative flow. With guidance and playful prompts, you’ll experiment with writing kanji in the style of unexpected characters like a lawyer, a professional wrestler, or even a child—awakening fresh perspectives and laughter.

Followed by a mindful meditation, you’ll select one meaningful kanji and bring it to life on a traditional hanging scroll, guided by the master’s example and your own creative instincts. The experience concludes with a live performance by the calligrapher—an awe-inspiring display of fluid motion, expression, and mastery on a wall-sized canvas.

Your Host

Calligrapher Hokyu Usui

After growing up in Hiroshima, he pursued creative work across Kyoto and Tokyo before settling again in Kyoto, where he now leads the calligraphy and design studio “ZOU”. With a background in graphic design, DTP operation, and fine art printing sales, he began studying under renowned calligrapher Souhou Takeda in 2017.

Blending the perspective of a designer with the expressive power of brush calligraphy, he specializes in creating characters that not only convey meaning but also evoke the story behind and the future beyond each word. His work flows freely—vertically and horizontally—unbound by convention.

Awards & Recognition

Prizewinner in the Japan Design Calligraphy Grand Prize in 2018, 2020, and 2022
Winner of the Kadokawa Prize in the 2019 calligraphy performance battle “Karasu”
Awarded the Soun Prize (Grand Prize, Art Division) at the 2020 Tanabata Exhibition hosted by Futaba Calligraphy Association

Reifu Natsumi Sumiyoshi Maya: ※Occasionally, one of his apprentices will lead the lessons on his behalf.

Location

Atelier Design Calligraphy “Zou”

Shichiku-Nishi-Momonomoto-Cho

33-7-14

Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8208

※This is the meeting point.

More information

FIT / Group	Both
Min. and Max. # of Participants	1 min / 6 max
What is Included in the Price	Rental Calligraphy equipments, Your masterpiece on a hanging scroll, Master’s performance ※ Interpreter not included
Duration	2 hours
Start/End Time	10:00 – 12:00
Meeting / Departing Point	Atelier Design Calligraphy “Zou” Shichiku-Nishi-Momonomoto-Cho 33 33-7-14 Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8208
Notes: dietary restrictions, age limit. etc.	– We also suggest that guests carry some local currency for personal shopping and other expenses, as certain establishments may only accept cash payments.