Following the July 2018 torrential rains, the calligraphy club at Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Commercial High School began recovery efforts and message-sharing activities through calligraphy, under the name “Kurasho Project.”
The three-part series “Living in the Present,” “Toward Tomorrow,” and “Wishes” gave strength not only to disaster victims but also to many Kurashiki City residents.
However, three years after the disaster, the students who had seen this series graduated in March 2021.
Now in its fourth year, the Kurasho Project is entering a new generation.
The third-year calligraphy club members in the 2021 school year chose “Connect” as the key message for their work.
The work was exhibited from July 9 to 23, 2021, at the newly reopened Mabi Fureai Center. Here is a report on the exhibition.
The information presented here was current when this article was published in July 2021. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About the Calligraphy Club at Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Commercial High School
The calligraphy club at Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Commercial High School (hereafter, Kurasho) aims to live by the motto “Calligraphy reflects the person,” and works to help each member grow and enjoy a fulfilling high school life through club activities.
As of July 2021, the club had 45 members (13 first-years, 16 second-years, and 16 third-years).
The club engages in a variety of calligraphy-related activities, including:
- International High School Students’ Calligraphy Exhibition (Calligraphy Koshien)
- AEON MALL Cup High School Calligraphy Performance Grand Prix
- “Kurasho Project,” a community contribution initiative through calligraphy
In 2020, activities could not proceed as usual, with the Calligraphy Performance Grand Prix among the events canceled. In 2021, although restrictions remain, competitions and other events are gradually resuming.
Kurasho Project
Following the July 2018 torrential rains, the Kurasho calligraphy club launched recovery efforts and message-sharing activities through calligraphy under the name “Kurasho Project.”
I believe the three-part series “Living in the Present,” “Toward Tomorrow,” and “Wishes” gave strength to many Kurashiki City residents. I was one of those who drew strength from the series.
▼ Living in the Present (2018)
▼ Toward Tomorrow (2019)
▼ Wishes (2020)
However, the students who knew how the Kurasho Project began graduated in March 2021.
The changeover to a new generation came in the 2021 school year.
The 2021 School Year Work: “Connect”
The work for the 2021 school year was titled “Connect.”
The wording was decided through discussions among the 16 third-year members, who then created the work together.
Here is the text of the work:
The key message “Connect” is said to carry two meanings.
The first is what the members associate with “Connect”: “memories, life, feelings, people, hearts, and future generations.”
The second is their determination, as the Kurasho calligraphy club, to carry on the “Kurasho Project.”
Because of COVID-19, not only calligraphy performances but club activities themselves were restricted. It was striking to see the students doing their best to explain their work, despite being unfamiliar with media interviews.
Exhibition at Mabi Fureai Center through July 23, 2021
As of July 2021, “Connect” was scheduled to be exhibited at the following locations:
| Dates | Location |
|---|---|
| July 9–23, 2021 | Mabi Fureai Center |
| July 30–August 31, 2021 | JR Kurashiki Station Underground Gallery |
Here is a brief look at the exhibition at Mabi Fureai Center.
From the Writer
Three years since the July 2018 torrential rains.
It was raining on July 9, 2021, the day of the interview, with thunder rumbling and heavy rainfall, making the atmosphere feel unsettled.
Rain at this time of year always makes me uneasy…
Three years is a surprisingly long time. Some people feel reassured seeing the town become beautiful again and think, “It’s all over now,” while others say, “Recovery is still a long way off.”
Everyone’s journey over these three years has been different, and that is true for each student as well as for the Kurasho calligraphy club as a whole.
What are we “connecting”?
Perhaps it is our responsibility, as people living in the present, to keep thinking about that.
Exhibition of the Kurasho Calligraphy Club’s 2021 School Year Masterpiece, “Connect” Information
| Name | Exhibition of the Kurasho Calligraphy Club’s 2021 School Year Masterpiece, “Connect” |
|---|---|
| Dates | 【Mabi Fureai Center】 July 9–23, 2021 【JR Kurashiki Station Underground Gallery】 July 30–August 31, 2021 |
| Location | Mabi Fureai Center · JR Kurashiki Station Underground Gallery |
| Admission (tax included) | Free |
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Connect
Let us talk about that day
Let us tell others about that day
The precious memories we must never forget
The days we faced loneliness
after losing them
The memories etched on that day
are a message for the future
Connecting heart to heart, our love for our hometown
is what we will carry on