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"Even if you go at your own pace, there is still value in continuing."

Takumi Terashima, 3rd year student, School of Political Science and Economics

In front of Building No. 3 Waseda Campus

Takumi Terashima won the top prize, the U23 Mainichi Award, in the U23 Kana Category II category (※1) at the 75th Mainichi Calligraphy Exhibition, the largest calligraphy exhibition in Japan. He achieved this feat at the exhibition, which had a total of 27,000 pieces of work exhibited (in 2024) while enjoying campus life in every way: classes, his student club, working part-time... We asked Terashima about what inspired him to start calligraphy, his impressions of the competition, and his life at university.

(※1) U23 is a category for participants aged 16 to 23 years old. Kana Category II is a category for submissions in "kana" using one or two waka poems or up to four haiku as a model.

--Please tell us what made you start calligraphy.

This work was created when the artist was in the first grade of elementary school. The bold brush strokes and beautiful curves are impressive.

It all started with a calligraphy class I attended when I was in kindergarten. The famous calligrapher Takano Riho, winner of the Sunstar International Award (※2) at the 76th Nissho Exhibition, sponsored by the Japan Calligraphy Art Institute, came to teach at my kindergarten. At the time, I didn't know she was such a great teacher, and I just picked up a brush for fun. When I became an elementary school student, I became seriously interested in calligraphy, and started attending her class. I still study under Takano.

I never thought I would continue calligraphy for this long, and when I was preparing for my high school entrance exams, I was worried about whether I could balance it with my studies and wanted to quit. But then my teacher told me, "You don't have to pay the monthly fee until the exams are over, so come back." I think I was able to continue thanks to my teacher's kindness. In high school, I was a member of the soccer club while attending a calligraphy class, and I exhibited my work at competitions and exhibitions every year.

(※2) This is the only international award among the many calligraphy exhibitions in Japan, and is recognized as a prestigious award.

--How much time do you spend on calligraphy during your regular university life?

In fact, I only attend Takano's class twice a month and don't spend any other time on calligraphy. When I first enrolled, I considered joining a calligraphy student club, but I've been continuing to study calligraphy under Takano to improve my skills, and I thought I would get tired of concentrating too much on calligraphy alone. Now, in addition to calligraphy, I belong to a soccer student club, which I've also been playing since I was a child.

Other than that, I am putting a lot of effort into my part-time job at a restaurant and seminar activities at the School of Political Science and Economics. In particular, I interact daily with students who are much better than me in the seminar of Prof. Ikuo Kume (Faculty of Political Science and Economics), to which I belong, and I feel the advantages of Waseda where I can meet a wide variety of students.

A photo of the soccer student club he belongs to. Terashima is second from the left in the top row.

-Was there anything that stood out to you on the path to winning the U23 Mainichi Award?

The winner of the U23 Mainichi Award. A poem by Sosei-hoshi from the Hyakunin Isshu: "Just as you said you would come now, I have been waiting for Waning Crescent."

It took an incredible amount of trial and error to arrive at the best piece. I increased the number of classes from two a month to three a week, and it was not uncommon for practice sessions that started at 4 p.m. to not end until 10 p.m. Before the deadline for submitting the work, I added additional practice sessions from 8:30 a.m. to noon, and rewrote the piece many times until I was satisfied with it.

When writing kana, it is important to express the blurring and rubbing that is called "Junkatsu." Characters that are uniform in shade are not considered beautiful, so I followed my teacher's example and paid particular attention to it. I put particular effort into the upper left part of the work.

When I participated in the competition as a freshman in university, I only managed to win a prize, so of course I'm genuinely happy to have received the U23 Mainichi Award this time, but I'd also like to thank my teacher who practiced with me well beyond the allotted time, the people in the classroom who helped me with the work, and my mother, who was the happiest of all... Rather than saying that I "won" the Mainichi Award, it feels more like I "was able to win it" thanks to the people around me.

At the award ceremony for the Mainichi Calligraphy Exhibition. Terashima is third from the right, and Takano is in the center.

--What has allowed you to continue with calligraphy for so long?

First of all, there is a regular goal of participating in an exhibition. I have the ambition to win better awards, so I can work on calligraphy without losing sight of what is rewarding. I regret quitting piano lessons when I was in elementary school, so I try to cherish what I am continuing to do now.

Calligraphy requires a lot of time to work on assignments alone, and when you're alone, you tend to compromise and think, "This is good enough." At times like these, it's invaluable to have someone close to you who appreciates your efforts. My mother is very happy when I bring home a certificate or a prize, and Takano also has high expectations of me. What always motivates me is the desire to meet the expectations of those I care about.

--Please tell us what skills you have acquired through calligraphy.

This is an expensive brush that I received from  Takano after I became a university student. The bristles are very soft and the ink soaks in well, so you can write without stress.

It's concentration. Before I write my first stroke, my hand trembles as I hold the brush, wondering "Where should I start?", but the moment I start writing, a switch flips and I calm down. I think it's a similar feeling to when an athlete "gets in the zone." Recently, I noticed that the paper looks beautiful when I'm concentrating. Usually, I'm concerned about the color of the writing pad or the creases in the paper, but when I'm concentrating, the paper looks really white, as if no unnecessary information is coming in.

Once I lose concentration, it doesn't come back for a while, so when that happens, I give up and stop writing or write something different. I don't often pay much attention to the feel of calligraphy in my daily life, but this way of creating contrast is useful in important situations such as exams.

--Please tell us about your future goals.

As for calligraphy, I want to continue without losing sight of my ambition and not succumb to the pressure of having already achieved good results. I haven't decided on my future career path yet, but I want to pursue what I want to do without compromising. Furthermore, although it's a long way off, I would like to become a calligraphy teacher one day, because I was able to grow under such a great teacher. Recently, I felt sad that fewer people are continuing with calligraphy, but I want to convey through my own activities that there is a good reason to continue, even if you are like me and don't cram too much into it and go at your own pace.

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Interview, text and photography: Waseda Weekly Reporter (SJC student staff)
Suhon Kanai, 2nd year student, School of Law

【Profile】

A photo from when he went to the beach his student club

Born in Tokyo. Graduated from Waseda University Senior High School. His favorite soccer team is FC Barcelona. His latest obsession is reading manga that have been completed for a long time, such as "The Seven Deadly Sins" by Suzuki Nakaba (Kodansha). When it comes to abura soba in Waseda, he prefers "Abura Soba Specialty Shop Menji."