Japanese Master Calligrapher Bishou Imai

Japanese Master Calligrapher Bishou Imai Signature
Japanese Master Calligrapher Bishou Imai

Japanese Master Calligrapher Bishou Imai.
Shown here crafting her artwork which follows
a 1600-year Japanese tradition.

Bishou was born and raised in Nara, Japan. She began her studies of Calligraphy at the age of four at Baikou Calligraphy School. When Bishou was 25 years old, she received a membership to the Tenshin Kai (calligraphy society) and her life as a calligrapher began. Bishou progressed to the next level, becoming a member of the Cho-ko Guild which is the most prestigious calligraphy society in Japan. During her apprenticeship, she taught calligraphy and studied the art of Japanese silk scroll making (hyougu) at Mizuno Hyougu-ten.

Bushido Japanese Kanji calligraphy wall scroll

A sample of her work:
Bushido - Kaisho style

In 1998, Master Calligrapher Bishou Imai was awarded the highest rank in Japanese Calligraphy of Shihan. She currently holds a guild license for teaching both calligraphy and instructing teachers to teach calligraphy.

Bishou Imai is among the few to have won multiple best of category awards in national competitions (Japan). Her work has been displayed at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Osaka Municipal Museum Of Art, Nara City Museum Of Art and Kyoto Municipal Museum Of Art.

In Addition to being a calligrapher, she is also an "artisan artist" (Hyougushi).

美嶂 is how Bishou is written. This name means "Beautiful Cliff/Mountain". You will see these characters signed just before the red signature stamp on her calligraphy pieces.

Ancient
Seal
Script
Official
Script
 
Regular
Script
Running
Regular
Script
Running
Script
 
Running
Cursive
Script
Chaos
Cursive
Style
Japanese calligraphy painting combo

Kana Sosho
painting combination.

Japanese Kana calligraphy

Kana style Japanese calligraphy

Japanese love calligraphy

Single-Kanji
Love
calligraphy
in Kai-Gyosho
style.

Japanese Master Calligrapher Bishou Imai
Japanese Master Calligrapher Bishou Imai
Japanese Master Calligrapher Bishou Imai gives a Japanese calligraphy class

Master Imai, holding a Japanese calligraphy class in Boston.