Prayer in Ink: Calligrapher Shourin Iwasaki’s “When You Wish Upon a Star”

What do you think of when you look up at the night sky?

You entrust your wishes to a shooting star.
You let your thoughts wander to distant galaxies.
In the star-filled sky, you feel both your own smallness and infinite possibilities at the same time.

Calligrapher Shourin Iwasaki’s “When You Wish Upon a Star,” created with brush in hand, is a work that expresses this universal human prayer through the contrast of jet-black ink and blank space.

＼　岩﨑翔凛のSTORESはこちら！　／

A Trajectory of Hope Drawn by Dynamic Brushwork

The moment you lay eyes on this work, what first captures your attention is the overwhelming vigor of the brushstrokes.
The character for “wish” (願) traces powerful yet graceful curves, like a meteor streaking across the night sky.
The soft flow of the hiragana characters that follow, “iwo” (いを), conveys a warmth that seems to nestle close to our hearts.
In the character for “star” (星), one senses a delicacy reminiscent of particles of light scattered across the universe.

The gradations woven by the varying shades of ink are the very depth of the night sky itself.
The speed of the moment the brush moved, the breathing, and even the wavering of the writer’s heart are all etched onto the paper.

“When You Wish Upon a Star”: Universal Feelings Dwelling in Words

While “When You Wish Upon a Star” is also known as a famous Disney song, its origins are much older and deeper.
Since ancient times, people have looked up at the stars, wishing for abundant harvests, praying for safe voyages, and dreaming of fulfilled romances.

Words containing “star” include many that express the passage of time and beauty, such as “morning star” (明星), “years” (星霜), and “starry night” (星月夜).
Among these, the expression “to accumulate years” (星霜を重ねる) means to pass through the years, poetically representing the way one marks life’s time while gazing at the stars.
Additionally, the four-character idiom “hiseitaigetsu” (披星戴月)—which literally means to push open the stars and wear the moon, referring to working diligently from early morning until late at night—contains within it an aspiration for the dreams that shine beyond one’s efforts.

Shourin Iwasaki’s “When You Wish Upon a Star” revives the profound depth these words carry in the present day through the art of calligraphy.

Calligraphy as a Form of Prayer

Calligraphy is not merely an art form that pursues the beauty of characters.
It is an act in which the spirit of the writer is transferred onto paper through the brush.
The breathing, concentration, and prayer embedded in each stroke.
When these harmonize, characters transcend mere symbols and become entities that speak to the viewer’s soul.

Such “prayer” certainly dwells in Shourin Iwasaki’s works.
The reason for choosing the words “When You Wish Upon a Star” likely lies there.
Wishes that everyone harbors in their hearts.
Dreams they want to fulfill.
The happiness of loved ones.
To express such invisible feelings with the minimal elements of black ink and white paper—that is the power calligraphy possesses.

The Breath of Tradition Living in the Present

Shourin Iwasaki’s calligraphy maintains traditional techniques while also possessing a contemporary sensibility.
On Instagram (@iwasaki_shourin), works created daily are shared, each offering fresh surprise and inspiration.

From classical Chinese character works to creative calligraphy imbued with modern messages, the breadth of expression is truly wide.
Yet what all works share in common is the sincere attitude of “wanting to deliver something to people’s hearts through calligraphy.”

A work like “When You Wish Upon a Star,” when displayed in a room, transforms that space into something special.
If it enters your field of vision when you wake up in the morning, it will give you the strength to start your day positively.
When you return home tired at night and see it, it should quietly heal your heart.

Your Wish Entrusted to the Brush

What is your wish?

The words woven by Shourin Iwasaki’s brush light different flames in each viewer’s heart.
When standing before the work “When You Wish Upon a Star,” one person might recall the starry sky they saw as a child.
Another might reaffirm the dream they currently hold.
Yet another might envision the smiling face of someone dear to them.

That is the wonder of the art of calligraphy.
While it is a completed work, it continues to expand infinitely within the viewer’s heart.
It is a personal, universal, and eternal experience—just like looking up at the starry sky.

If you’d like to know more about Shourin Iwasaki’s world, please follow him on Instagram

There, works updated daily await to speak to your heart.

＼　岩﨑翔凛のInstagramはこちら！　／

Online Shop Now Open

Furthermore, we are pleased to announce that an online shop where you can purchase Shourin Iwasaki’s calligraphy works has now opened on STORES.

Bring calligraphy works such as “Breaking the Limits” into your hands.
As a gift, as a present to yourself, as a message of encouragement to someone important.
Calligraphy conveys feelings that go beyond words.

We offer framed works and a variety of sizes.
Perfect not only as interior decor for your room, but also as gifts for those embarking on new beginnings.

Limits exist to be surpassed.
A single piece of calligraphy gives you that extra push forward.

Please experience the world of Shourin Iwasaki’s calligraphy.

＼　岩﨑翔凛のSTORESはこちら！　／