When I was back in Japan last year, I was interviewed by T’s Pool Magazine, issued by Takara Leben, a mansion developer company in based in Tokyo.I received a copy of the magazine in mail a few weeks ago, here in Berkeley. My article was spanned over the first 4 pages as well as the cover of the magazine on its January 2015 issue. Wow, I feel very flattered. I was also commissioned to write a kanji character for the New Year – something that symbolizes my wish for how I want my and everyone’s year of 2015 to be. I chose “耀”, which means “shine” in Japanese, wishing that your year to be flourishing and shining with full of creativity and energy.

As I was reading through the interview, revisiting memories of my past works, I realize how fortunate and thankful I am to be surrounded by many talented creative minds who I have collaborated with to create beautiful art, and broadened my horizons; who share passions to strive for the better and the world unseen.

I hope that sharing my work with people in the world also inspire others to create something new – like how others always do to me. I have been working on many new exciting projects and commission works since I moved into the new atelier, so hope to share them with you soon!

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As credited in the magazine,

Special thanks to:
T’s Pool / Takara Leben / Advans Works
Akko Terasawa
Tokio Kuniyoshi of Shooting Life LLC
Flower Couture / Aya Tanaka / Nanako Yano / Akira
Waylan Choy
Tomo Saito
DG717
Sacramento Taiko Dan
YBCA
Asian Art Museum
Caroline Wachsmuth
La Boutique
Sebastian Plano
Celine Parker
Yoram Savion
The New Republic / Erick Fletes
Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco
Ikebana International
and always and forever Ben Marx and my family.

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DMM英会話ブログに、インタビューが掲載されました。

http://eikaiwa.dmm.com/blog/interview/aoi_yamaguchi/

私の海外生活での経験や、書家としてのアーティスト活動についてなど、いろいろお話しさせていただきました。

インタビューを受けながら、自分が留学したばかりのことを思い出しました。光陰矢の如しとはこのことで、もはや１１年も前の話になってしまうけれど、今でもアメリカに行ったばかりの頃の七転八倒な体験を、鮮明に覚えています。今だから、笑い話のネタの一つとして語れるけれど、その当時は、とにかく一生懸命だったなぁと。新しい環境に慣れること、いままであたりまえのようにあったモノや文化、テクノロジーがない環境で生活していくこと。常に100%理解して伝えきることの出来ないコミュニケーションのなかで相手と気持ちを通わせること。社会に揉まれて、自分の意思を主張することの大切さ、自分を自分で守る自己責任能力を培ってきたのかなと思います。

そういう意味でも「言葉」って、この世界で生きていくには必要不可欠なもの。一生懸命机上で勉強するだけでは身につかない、環境が育てていく能力だと、自分の体験を以ってそう思います。

インタビューの最後に好きな言葉を３つあげました。
特に私が好きなのは、

“Who you are defines what you do.”

数年前に書作品としても書いたこの言葉は、時に人生のリマインダーとして眺めています。自分の向かっている先がわからなくなったり、自分の信じているものに自信をなくしたり、そういうときに「じぶんとはだれだろう？」って根本に還る時間を作ってくれるのがこの言葉です。

みなさんの好きな言葉はなんですか？

***

I was interviewed by DMM Eikaiwa, an English-learning school and online tutoring company in Japan. The article is on their blog site (written in Japanese), you can access from here:
http://eikaiwa.dmm.com/blog/interview/aoi_yamaguchi/

I talked about various topics including my experiences of studying abroad and now working-professional as a calligraphy artist. As I was answering questions by the interviewer, I was reminiscing old memories of when I just came to the United States 11 years ago – wow time flies – I vividly remember numbers of crazy happenings and troubles that I would’ve never experienced if I were in Japan, and now I can laugh all about them. It was like I, all of a sudden, was dropped into a whole new world where all the familiar technologies, language and culture were gone. I had sleepless nights studying, falling asleep on couch or on the desk, and tried my best to adjust to the environment. It was not easy to communicate in a language that I couldn’t comprehend 100% at all times, but it rewarded me so much when I was able to share feelings with others. We all nurture our abilities in a society through communication, especially in such a multi-cultural country like United States. You have to stand up for yourself, and protect yourself. Language ability plays a big role in our society. It’s the environment that nourishes you, and it’s your strong will that makes you grow.

At the end of the interview, I told three English phrases / quote that I love. My favorite is “Who you are defines what you do.” I wrote this phrase in calligraphy a few years ago. I look at it as a reminder in my life, and meditate on it especially when I feel lost, or when I feel lack of confidence. “Who am I?” “Why do I do what I do?” This phrase helps me to answer these questions, and bring me back the brightness in life.

What is your favorite quote?

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日本書道評論社から毎月発行されている「書の研究」に、私が去年１０月に行なったサンフランシスコアジア美術館でのデモンストレーション＆ワークショップ「新たなる伝統：源xシムラ – New Traditions: gen x Simula」に関するレポートが掲載されました。２月号と３月号の２ヶ月に渡り、大人版と子供版両方に掲載されています。

「書の研究」は、私が書道を始めた６歳のときからずっと、毎月お手本として学んで来た書道の総合競書誌です。その「書の研究」に、私のアメリカでの書活動をレポートすることが出来たのはとても光栄な事です。学生時代「書の研究」と共に歩んだ１３年間があったからこそ、今の私があります。少しでも書道の国際化に貢献出来るよう、日々邁進するわたしですが、このレポートを読んで書道の未来について一緒に考えてもらえたら、そして海外でも日本の書道という文化が多くの人に愉しまれているということを感じてもらえたら、嬉しいです。

My report on the calligraphy demonstration and workshop “New Traditions: Simula x Gen” at Asian Rt Museum last October was featured in The International Calligraphy Association’s monthly journal “Sho No Kenkyu,” February and March issue consecutively. You can read them both in adult’s version and youth version of the journal.

This is a honorable achievement for me. I have been a member and studied Japanese calligraphy with this “Sho No Kenkyu” since when I was six. By submitting your work every month, you will get higher rank as you pass the inspection by calligraphy masters & judge committee. I continued practicing, studied under the master Zuiho Sato, and reached the highest rank 6 years in a row – and received the title of the master of Japanese calligraphy student when I was 14. Without Sho No Kenkyu, I won’t be here.

I hope you will have a chance to read this report (if you’re in Japan!), and if you could see that Japanese calligraphy is enjoyed by many people in overseas, you will make me feel really content with my work. Baby steps to the future.

Warmest energy to you.

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