When it comes to the calligraphy club, you might have an image of quiet writing.
One activity that overturns that image is "calligraphy performance."
- Create a large work with multiple people to music
- Dynamic movements using large brushes
In a typical year, a calligraphy performance competition would be held annually, but it has been canceled since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although it has gradually resumed in the 2021 fiscal year, the preliminary rounds have become video assessments, and it was not possible to perform in front of an audience, but on January 10, 2022, there was a live performance for the first time in a while!
The " Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Commercial High School Calligraphy Club " also participated.
This article reports on the "New Year! High School Calligraphy Performance" held at Aeon Mall Kurashiki on January 10, 2022.
About "New Year! High School Calligraphy Performance"
The "New Year! High School Calligraphy Performance" was held on January 10, 2022, at the Central Court of Aeon Mall Kurashiki.
The event was operated by the "National High School Calligraphy Performance Grand Prix Secretariat," but it was not the main competition.
The "Chugoku-Shikoku Regional Qualifying Round of the National High School Calligraphy Performance Grand Prix," which was scheduled for September 18, 2021, was canceled and turned into a video assessment, so it was held with the intention of providing an opportunity to perform in front of an audience.
The first place in the Chugoku-Shikoku Regional Qualifying Round of the National High School Calligraphy Performance Grand Prix was "Okayama Higashi Commercial High School."
Later, they placed "4th" in the Chugoku-Shikoku Regional Competition held on December 11, 2021, and participated in the final competition held at Aeon Mall Makuhari Shintoshin on January 23, 2022.
Due to measures against the spread of COVID-19, the event was held in a way to avoid crowding, with performances scheduled every hour, but many people, mainly parents and alumni, attended.
The participating schools and their performance times are as follows.
| High School Name | Time |
|---|---|
| Okayama Yoshizen High School | 12:00 PM - |
| Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Commercial High School | 1:00 PM - |
| Yakage High School | 2:00 PM - |
| Okayama Higashi Commercial High School | 3:00 PM - |
Overview of the Calligraphy Performance
Due to time constraints, I watched the performances of Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Commercial High School starting at 1:00 PM and Yakage High School starting at 2:00 PM.
The following will mainly introduce photos.
Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Commercial High School
The work was themed on the late Senichi Hoshino, a graduate of Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Commercial High School, who was known as a fierce commander in professional baseball with the Chunichi Dragons, Hanshin Tigers, and Rakuten.
Yakage High School
Conclusion
This was the second time I watched a calligraphy performance.
I cannot evaluate the technical aspects, but I feel attracted to the performance's live energy and the strength it provides.
Calligraphy performance is an initiative that is almost exclusively conducted in high schools.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, adults have been postponing things or changing priorities while managing work and life.
However, students who are doing "what can only be done now" cannot do that.
In interviews after the performance, each school mentioned, "This was our first performance outside of school," and after the event, parents and alumni gathered for a long time for commemorative photos.
Should we think it was good to perform even once in front of an audience?
In late January 2022, the number of COVID-19 infections increased again, leading to restrictions on club activities, but I cannot help but hope that students' "what can only be done now" will not be restricted.
