Think Ink! #12 - Japanese Calligraphy Event 2026

On March 12th 2026, the University of Calgary Japanese Program and the Japanese Culture Collective had the privilege to host Think Ink #12. This event gave 40 participants the opportunity to learn about the rich history of calligraphy in Japan and first-hand experience to try it themselves. This event was made possible by Professor Akiko Sharp and professional calligrapher Mami Humphreys, who facilitated this incredible Japanese cultural immersion opportunity. 

Participants were first led through a presentation on Japanese calligraphy by Professor Akiko Sharp. Transported through history, students learned about 6 different calligraphy styles that persisted through history and where they remain in applications today. They also learned the fundamentals of calligraphy, and even had a look into modern theatrical applications of calligraphy through a brief video on Shodo performance by Japanese high school students. 

The first calligraphy style introduced was Tensho (Seal Script) style, which dates back more than 2,000 years, originating from Chinese hieroglyphs and pictograms and is still used today in Japan for corporate seals and personal bank seals. This style later evolved into Reisho (Clerical Script), Sosho (Cursive), Gyosho (Semi-cursive), and Kaisho (Standard Script) styles, as writing had to become faster, clearer, or more expressive. The modern Japanese language uses “Kana”, which was created to adapt to the Japanese language as there were certain pronunciations that could not be written with the borrowed Chinese characters (kanji).

The phrase selected for this year’s Think Ink was “Wagokoro” (和心). It is described as a gentle mindset centered around caring for others, while maintaining calm and balance in everyday life.

Participants were taught similarly to how students were taught in “Terakoya”, which were community-based temple schools from Japan’s Edo period where children learned calligraphy through individualized guidance from a teacher. The assistance of 10 students from the Hokkaido University of Education helped fill in this teacher role to assist participants throughout the calligraphy process.

The art of calligraphy is a purposeful and reflective experience. Throughout the demonstration, Mami Humphreys emphasized the importance of enjoying the process and engaging the senses. Wagokoro perfectly captures these elements, granting participants the opportunity to take time out of their everyday lives to find calm, harmony, and connection with others through this event. 

Participants proudly displayed their completed work, leaving the event with a piece of Japanese culture, and an unforgettable learning experience. We thank all volunteers, instructors, and participants for creating such a memorable and successful event.