Held on November 13, Japanese Day at SPC Downtown (DT) was full of art demonstrations, performances, Ikebana, and exhibitions. The day aimed to celebrate Japanese culture with sushi and live art demonstrations by Koki Sugita and Keisuke Teshima, two contemporary artists from Fukuoka, Japan who are featured in the video linked below. Mr. Sugita writes Japanese calligraphy on traditional rice-straw (tatami) mats, and Mr. Teshima is one of only three people in the world to master the one-stroke dragon-painting technique.

About his art, Mr. Sugita commented, “If I have put my all into my work, and the thing I create matches the image I made in my mind and the energy and feelings of the room, then I know it’s good.” Mr. Teshima revealed to another student the Japanese general philosophy of art: “While there’s no one form of martial art that is directly related to what I do [one-stroke dragon painting], all forms of Japanese art are connected. I’ve practiced karate for ten years, and Mr. Sugita has practiced kendo (Japanese fencing) for ten years. Everything is related.”

Want to see more? Mr. Sugita’s amazing art is on display on the second floor of the Downtown Center and will remain there through the end of the year.

Also, check out our SPC Study Abroad Programs for amazing opportunities for cultural experience!