Japanese Calligraphy Exhibition Tokyo: Our Country 2026
Oct 06, 2026 at 11:00am ~ Oct 11, 2026 at 7:00pm
Ransetsu Ozawa, BLNK and Yasuhiro Udagawa transform calligraphy into textiles and spatial installations at Daikanyama Hillside Forum.
“WATASHITACHI NO KUNI | OUR COUNTRY” is a Japanese calligraphy exhibition in Tokyo that moves brushwork beyond paper. The free exhibition runs from Oct. 6–11, 2026, at Daikanyama Hillside Forum.
Calligrapher Ransetsu Ozawa collaborates with textile artist BLNK and textile-printing artisan Yasuhiro Udagawa. Together, they translate the bleeding ink, dry-brush textures and negative space of calligraphy into fabric and installation.
Calligraphy Translated Into Textile
Rather than printing finished calligraphy directly onto cloth, the collaborators reinterpret the qualities of each brushstroke. Ink bleeding, fading and irregular lines become part of the textile-making process.
The works combine cotton with Awa washi (Japanese paper), foil, flocking and shimmering particles. Textile printing and heat pressing add further layers of texture.
Udagawa brings 16 years of dyeing-factory experience to the project. He also works as a technical instructor in Tama Art University’s Textile Design Department.
BLNK develops the material selection, textile production and spatial composition. Ozawa’s original brushwork provides the starting point for each transformation.
Inside “WATASHITACHI NO KUNI | OUR COUNTRY”
The exhibition’s centerpiece, “Our Country,” stretches through the venue’s atrium. The work places the character 心, meaning “heart,” in relation to 国, meaning “country.”
Its scale and placement invite questions around home, belonging and memory. Guests may gently touch sections of the fabric to feel its surface.
“Beings Not of This World” layers colored textile printing with washi, foil and flocking. One fabric panel measures 145 × 800 cm, while a wrap skirt measures 145 × 400 cm.
“The Snow Room / The Flower Room” explores ink gradations, transparency and overlapping fabric across 2 differently lit spaces. Costumes featured in the exhibition’s visual campaign are also on display.
Ransetsu Ozawa and Japanese Calligraphy
Ozawa began practicing calligraphy at age 3 and received the artist name Ransetsu while still young. She has exhibited in Japan and internationally since the 1980s.
Her previous projects have brought Japanese calligraphy to audiences in the UK, Europe and Asia. For “Our Country,” Ozawa uses fabric and space to extend the expressive qualities of her brushwork.
The project also places Japanese textile craftsmanship at the center of the exhibition. Awa washi, textile printing, flocking and foil each respond differently to light, movement and touch.
For more on Japanese craft and textile art, read Metropolis’ Ishikawa Kyuyo at Art Fair Tokyo, “Ark of Textile” and Some no Komichi Fabric-Dyeing Festival.
Exhibition Information
Dates: Oct. 6–11, 2026
Hours: 11am–7pm
Last admission: 6:30pm
Admission: Free
Venue: Daikanyama Hillside Forum, Hillside Terrace Building F
Address: 18-8 Sarugakucho, Shibuya-ku
Daikanyama Station is about a 3-minute walk from the venue. Nakameguro Station is about 7 minutes away, while Ebisu Station is about 10 minutes on foot.
An opening reception takes place on Oct. 5 from 5pm–7pm. The reception is invitation-only.
Information
Start: Oct 6th 2026 at 11:00am
End: Oct 11th 2026 at 7:00pm
Free
