It was a very happy day.
It took me a while to calm my emotions, but I would like to write about the day.
What are we going to do in town on Sunday?
My husband suddenly said, “We’re going to Groningen tomorrow!”
Only cafés and chain restaurants are open on Sundays, but it is quite normal for him to suddenly suggest something, so I said “OK.”
Even when he gets dressed, he says, “I’ll put on nice clothes.”
He seems to have plans. I will also pick out bit of nice clothes.
For some reason, he even picked up a big camera.
“Is there what a festival?” I thought, but it’s very quiet in town.
Hmmm…, the mystery!
He says something strange at S.ko-san’s shop Batsu, “I’ll take your picture in front of the shop.”
” Nobody is here on Sundays, you know?” When I looked inside “There’s someone here!” (Laughs)
” is she having a workshop?” When I looked, my eyes met Li-san’s!
“Oh, what a coincidence!” , but the neighbour and the neighbour and the neighbour were all ・・・・ familiar faces!
Ohhhhhh？？？
I look further back and see “only familiar faces” lined up, and next to the screen Su-san S.ko-san beckons with a smile
“A meeting with everyone?” I thought.
Surprise!!!
When I turned around, my husband was holding the camera (laughs).
10th year of Waran Mizukuki-kai
This year 2024 marks the 10th year of WARAN MIZUKIKUKAI.
Everyone knew that I had said “I would like to hold an exhibition, but it took me so long to find a place that I couldn’t do anything about it…”.
So Su-san, Elⅼ-san, He-san, S.ko-san and others secretly planned a “party” (Oh, the emotion again (tears)).
Two of the organisers came to the Netherlands from other countries to get married.
Thinking back to a few months ago, He-san stood at my door and was talking to my husband about something.
At that moment, she told me ” Yumi shouldn’t come”. , and I sulked a little (laughs).
After that, I saw Ell-san, He-san and Su-san from Wednesday class going home together with an “included feeling” , and I thought, “They are so close~♪”, but “that” and “that” were both discussing “this”….
Also, I thought everyone was in a good mood for the past few months, but… they were up to something… (laughs)
The enrolled students and Sy-san and El-san, who are currently on hiatus (I thought ! ), were also there.
In my experience, I was ‘speechless with emotion’
What has happened so far…
Su-san, who made a slide presentation with photos of “10 years of Woran Mizukuki Kai”, stood next to the screen and gave a funny, fun and enjoyable explanation of the event.
The first of a small calligraphy class that started with four people at the kitchen table.
Explanation of the character ‘Shuji’. The number of classes enrolled by the Japanese Calligraphy Society (I don’t know it too (laughs)). The gradually increasing number of students, the increasing number of events, the good results, etc.
From the ‘first workshop project in S.ko-san and my life’ to recent demonstrations, orders for calligraphy products, etc….
I am told that many, many things have happened that I could not have even imagined 10 years ago.
I can still be with the people I spent “that time” with.
How special and grateful that is… looking at the faces of everyone,
I was filled with gratitude that cannot be expressed in words.
I thought of so many things…
More and more…
more and more
I was more and more moved.
I exceeded the limit of my emotional tank and froze emotionally (laughs).
Hand made cards
After slide video I was presented flowers ,
Yuzu-Sake,
And a book of cards that everyone had made for me.
They were also very careful in collecting the cards so that I wouldn’t find out (which mm didn’t even notice). Great success! (Laughter)
The book is wrapped in a beautifully patterned, elegant furoshiki, probably a piece of a kimono. This may belong to the fabric artist Ell-san.
The card is unique, fun, beautiful and full of love, with a stamp of approval.
K-san told us that making the rubber stamps was the hardest part.
Everyone , who are busy in them life but… (tears)
Onigiri, sushi rolls, sake, daifuku with strawberries…
Su-san’s homemade Onigiri (rice ball) with cute little faces
He-san’s handmade Norimaki ( sushi rolls ) are perfect in shape, hardness and taste.
The rose water made by Ell-san from edible roses added flowers to the table
S.ko-san prepared Sake ( rice wine).
“Cheers!”
Ichigo-daifuku ( daifuku with strawberry) for dessert was also handmade by Su-san.
I am so… delightful and happy (cries).
meeting with other class
People from classes that do not normally meet, eat together, talk and laugh merrily.
I ate two Ichigo Daifuku while chewing my fortune.
Don’t forget your first intention
My first calligraphy student in my life was a Japanese woman, Y-san.
She was a senior student of mine in the Netherlands life and asked me if I was homesick. I told her I was doing well because I calligraphy, and she came to learn it.
She took me to the Japanese department stores’ Batsu, where I met S.ko-san.
S.ko-san , and Astrid-san who is now in heaven, were especially active in spreading the word about the ‘WARAN MIZUKUKI KAI’.
It is no exaggeration to say that everyone who now takes our classes has gone, directly or indirectly, through them.
I am not a good advertiser and my Dutch and English are not good enough, I am really very grateful for this!
I remember every moment of meeting every student.
Whether they are in class or not.
Of course, I remember the first meeting Ell-san and He-san, but I thought it was S.ko-san who was the first person they got to know me,. No? (Laughter).
Everyone is special
Everyone is important.
From nothing to here.
I am lucky to be here because of the people I met.
I have nothing but gratitude
Continuity is strength.
As a child, I almost quit calligraphy many times and was pulled back by Kouchiku-Sensei, who saw through my “love of calligraphy”.
When I returned to calligraphy after quitting to pursue my singing career, Kochiku-senesi said to me, “Continuing is strength”.
I said, ‘I’m always slacking off, it hurts my ears’.
He told me, ‘If you don’t really stop, that’s one of the things that keeps you going, and that’s your strength’.
I wasn’t interested in qualifications or awards of Shodo, but at that moment I decided, ‘I’m going to get my master’s qualification.’ ‘ And here I am.
When I finally halved Master’s degree, I came to the Netherlands… I had no idea that calligraphy would help me connect with people in such a way.
I repeatedly wondered what it meant to teach calligraphy to people who don’t use Japanese in their daily lives.
Encouraged by the students, and sometimes bumping into each other, step by step we created the “WARAN MIZUKIKUKAI KAI” together.
In the Netherlands, a country with a different culture, we met people who take the time to learn the basics of calligraphy, which is hard for even Japanese people to keep learning.
Being surrounded by kind-hearted, nice people who throw surprise parties for me.
From the bottom of my heart
I am truly grateful.
Continuity is strength.
The next 10 years
What awaits us in the next 10 years?
How will each of us improve?
What kind of writing will each of us do?
I hope to see as many people together as possible.
Thank you all so much!
Let’s continue to enjoy Shodo together!
I look forward to working with you all.
Yumi