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At the core of this exhibition were the works from “Fukushima: 10 Years On”, originally shown at the December war exhibition.
Alongside them, I featured a waka poem by Kazusada Sumiyama, who lost his son in the 9/11 terrorist attack at Ground Zero in the U.S., as well as other related pieces — a total of 28 works.
Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the exhibition welcomed 560 visitors.
I was happy to reconnect with old friends, and equally grateful for the many meaningful conversations I had with first-time visitors.
Several people who practice calligraphy themselves engaged with me in in-depth discussions, entering the “realm” of the works.
A young man currently studying calligraphy told me that the exhibition stirred his creative spirit, which I found very encouraging.
One visitor spent a long time quietly viewing the pieces and taking photos, moved to tears. He told me, “This is the first time calligraphy has ever touched me,” and I, in turn, was deeply moved by his words — I even signed something for him upon request.
I also read all the pieces aloud for a young woman from Spain, currently studying in Sendai.
Another memorable moment was when a woman came with her daughter, who had found the exhibition online. Standing in front of my piece titled “Hana (Flower),” she smiled and said, “That’s my daughter’s name,” before taking a joyful photo together.
During a quiet moment, when no visitors were present, I sat silently in one of the chairs at the venue, soaking in the atmosphere of the space created by my own works. That peaceful, fulfilling moment was a true blessing — and I felt profound gratitude to the staff who helped make the exhibition possible.