Writing Women: Reviving Kana Shodo (‘Woman-Hand’)

To celebrate National Writing Day, the Book and Print Initiative at the Institute of English Studies has invited Kaoru Akagawa, designated Master of Japanese calligraphy, to tell the story of Kana Shodo, which was developed and used by noblewomen to express themselves freely within the constraints of 10th-century Japanese court life. Kaoru Akagawa keeps it alive today through a calligraphic technique she created to revive these ancient Kana characters for modern times.

This free evening at London’s Senate House, where Kaoru Akagawa will also offer a live demonstration, is a rare opportunity to see an ancient female script created mainly by and for woman – come to life! It is an official event of the Japan-UK Season of Culture 2019-2020