Ann Kameoka: Kobara Ranseki Calligraphy Demonstrations
He was assisted by one of his senior students, H. E. Davey
Sensei, the author of Brush Meditation: A Japanese Way
to Mind & Body Harmony (Stone Bridge Press). An excerpt from Brush Meditation
can be found in the first issue of Michi Online,
which in turn can be found in the
Michi Online Archives. Davey Sensei holds Shihan-Dai
teaching certification, the highest rank in the Ranseki
Sho Juku system of shodo.
Mr. Davey, the Director of the
Sennin Foundation Center for Japanese Cultural Arts,
offered demonstrations of shodo that featured explanations
in both Japanese and English. During these bilingual lectures,
he explained how shodo can function as a meditative Way that
can lead practitioners to mind and body harmony.
Then, on September 16, the Hokubei Mainichi newspaper
sponsored a special lecture/demonstration also featuring
Kobara Ranseki Sensei. The event was entitled "The Beauty
of Shodo and Japanese Culture." It took place in San
Francisco's Japan Town. Mr. Kobara lectured for over two
hours in Japanese about the origins of shodo and Japanese
writing systems, the history of haiku and waka poetry, and
the nature of the shodo brush, sumi ink sticks,
suzuri ink stones, and shuji-gami paper.
This was followed by showing the actual techniques and
methods of Japanese calligraphy, an art he's been practicing
for over 50 years. 
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