Amazing Japanese Calligraphers on Instagram (Part 2) - Mitsuru Nagata
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Mitsuru Nagata was born in Kyoto, and works extensively in Spain. His work combines elements of calligraphy with sumi-e (Japanese ink painting) techniques.
He performs at "live-painting" events, where he produces huge calligraphy paintings in front of a live audience.
These large-scale performances are often at festivals:
I love the simplicity of Nagata's work, like this stunning commission, with the traditional thatched roof home in the background:
おかえりなさい (o kaeri nasai) "Welcome home"
(Calligraphy is a good opportunity to get your eyes used to vertical writing, too!)
If hiragana's not your thing, there's plenty of complex kanji to get your teeth into too.
Like this new year's post, with a pug for the year of the dog (2018):
謹賀新年 (kinga shinnen) "Happy New Year"
I love the movement in these videos, and the combination of precision brushwork and watery ink.
This one's a promo for one of Nagata's live performances in Spain - a beckoning cat saying おいでね！ (oide ne!) "Please come!"
Follow Mitsuru Nagata (@nagatayakyoto) on Instagram, or find out more on his website.
Read more in this series:
Amazing Japanese Calligraphers on Instagram (Part 1) - Emi Yogai 恵美・曄涯
Amazing Japanese Calligraphers on Instagram (part 1.5 bonus!) - Emi Yogai 恵美・曄涯
Amazing Japanese Calligraphers on Instagram (Part 3) - Isawo Murayama
Amazing Japanese Calligraphers on Instagram (Part 4) - Uchiyama Kenichi
First published 13th Feb 2018; updated 30th Nov 2021
Like many people in the UK, I studied French in school. I liked French. I thought it was really fun to speak another language, to talk with people, and to try and listen to what was going on in a new country. (Still do!)
When I was 14 we went on a school exchange to the city of Reims, in northeastern France. I was paired with a boy, which I’m sure some 14-year-olds would find very exciting but which I found unbearably awkward. He was very sweet and we completely ignored each other.
That was nearly 20 years ago, and I didn’t learn or use any more French until, at some point in lockdown, I decided on a whim to take some one-to-one lessons with online teachers. Here are some things I learned about French, about language learning, and about myself.