Feelings embedded in every brushstroke.
When ink glides across Japanese paper, it embodies the writer’s breath, heart, and philosophy.
Standing before the work “十人十色” (so many men, so many minds) created by calligrapher Shourin Iwasaki’s brush, we are first overwhelmed by its power.
The four characters arranged vertically and horizontally seem like four individuals with distinct personalities, each asserting their own existence.
Thick lines and thin lines, dynamic sweeps and delicate stops.
No two characters share the same expression, yet they harmonize to create a unified world.
＼ 岩﨑翔凛のSTORESはこちら！ ／
What “So Many Men, So Many Minds” Tells Us
The phrase “十人十色 (jūnin toiro)” means that where there are ten people, there are ten different ways of thinking and personalities.
Similar expressions include “百人百様hyakunin hyakuyō” (a hundred people, a hundred ways) and “千差万別sensasabanhetsu” (infinite diversity), but there is a certain warmth in the sound of “so many men, so many minds.”
This is perhaps because we can sense a perspective that celebrates differences rather than denying them.
In modern society, “standardization” and “efficiency” are often demanded.
Sameness brings comfort, while difference tends to be perceived as risk.
But isn’t true richness found precisely in diversity?
Like a field blooming with flowers of various colors, the world is beautiful because each element radiates a different hue.
Shourin Iwasaki’s work reminds us of this truth.
The Gradations of Ink Reflecting Human Variety
When we carefully observe this work, meaning emerges even in the gradations of ink.
The gradient from deep black to gray seems to show that human individuality cannot be described by simple binaries but possesses infinite gradations.
The character “十” (ten) is simple yet powerful.
At the point where vertical and horizontal lines intersect, we sense the beginning of everything.
The character “人” (person) takes the form of two lines supporting each other.
This too seems to symbolize the connections between people.
The horizontal stroke of “十” is vigorous, while the final sweep of “色” (color) conveys a sense of liberation.
There is freedom within constraints, and individuality dwells within form.
This may be the essence of calligraphy—and of life itself.
The Once-in-a-Lifetime Brushwork
The charm of calligraphy lies in the impossibility of writing the same character the same way twice.
The temperature and humidity of the day, the condition of the brush, and above all, the state of the writer’s mind—all are reflected in the work.
From this piece by Shourin Iwasaki, we sense unhesitating determination combined with a flexible spirituality.
The moment the brush descends, the speed at which it travels, and the final instant when it lifts away.
Everything appears calculated yet simultaneously natural.
This paradoxical coexistence is surely the mark of mastery.
In the lower left, a vermillion seal is stamped.
Existing as the sole color in a world of black, this seal is the finishing touch that breathes life into the work.
While serving as the calligrapher’s signature, it harmonizes completely as part of the piece.
What Color Is Your “Color”?
The phrase “so many men, so many minds” asks each one of us: What is your color?
Some people are passionate like red, while others are calm like blue.
Some are bright like yellow, while others may be mysterious like purple.
And all of these are correct; all are beautiful.
What matters is expressing your own color with pride, without shame.
Through calligraphy, Shourin Iwasaki delivers this message to us.
The individuality that each character possesses, yet the harmony that functions as a whole.
This seems to symbolize the very nature of a society that embraces diversity.
Days Spent Facing Calligraphy
On Shourin Iwasaki’s Instagram, you can see the numerous works he creates daily.
From classical kanji pieces to contemporary creations incorporating modern sensibilities, his wide-ranging expression never fails to engage viewers.
Calligraphy is a traditional art with over a thousand years of history, yet it is also an art that constantly lives in the present.
Learning from the brushwork of the ancients while expressing oneself in this very moment.
True art is born where past and present, tradition and innovation intersect.
Why not glimpse into Shourin Iwasaki’s world?
The stories woven by ink, the subtleties of life depicted by the brush.
Something beyond words awaits you there.
Please see for yourself the feelings embedded in each brushstroke.
In a world of so many men, so many minds, what color will you radiate?
＼ 岩﨑翔凛のInstagramはこちら！ ／
Online Shop Now Open
Furthermore, we are pleased to announce the opening of an online shop on STORES where you can acquire Shourin Iwasaki’s calligraphy works.
We offer a variety of calligraphy works, from powerful pieces like “Recapture” to gentle words that nestle close to daily life.
Whether displayed in your home or given as a gift to someone special, these works will surely become memorable pieces.
Words have power.
And when those words are expressed through calligraphy, they transcend mere characters to become living energy.
Why not begin your journey to “recapture” what you’ve been losing, together with Shourin Iwasaki’s calligraphy works?
＼ 岩﨑翔凛のSTORESはこちら！ ／
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