“There’s a reason for being terrible” – Coach Anzai teaches us the first step toward growth

Calligrapher Shourin Iwasaki has taken up his brush to depict a legendary scene from the iconic basketball manga SLAM DUNK.

The subject is Coach Anzai, known as one of the finest coaches in the series.
Alongside his gentle expression are words that form an unforgettable line delivered during his guidance of protagonist Hanamichi Sakuragi:

“The first step on a terrible player’s road to becoming a master is knowing how terrible he is.”

＼　岩﨑翔凛のSTORESはこちら！　／

A universal message that strikes the heart

This line appears during a special training camp where Sakuragi is working to master his shooting skills.
Transcending the framework of basketball, this message resonates in every aspect of our lives.

When we hit a wall at work.
When we can’t seem to improve at our hobbies.
When we take on new challenges and painfully realize our own inadequacy.

Coach Anzai’s words teach us this: Being “terrible” is nothing to be ashamed of.
Rather, it means you’ve accurately grasped where you stand.
That itself is the certain first step toward growth.

Calligraphy conveying the weight of words

Shourin Iwasaki’s brushwork brilliantly captures the essence of this message.
Coach Anzai’s expression, rendered in powerful yet delicate lines, holds warmth within its strictness.

Above all, the vertically flowing characters overflow with the energy contained in these words.
There’s an “emotion” conveyed through brush-written characters that differs from printed text—something that can only be transmitted this way.

What’s necessary for improvement

We tend to turn away from our own weaknesses.
But true growth begins with accepting where we currently are.

What are we lacking?
What should we improve?
What should we learn next?

Only those who “have come to know” these things can begin walking the path toward mastery.
Coach Anzai’s words confront us with this truth.

The power of calligraphy in daily life

The appeal of Shourin Iwasaki’s work lies in how, while drawing from scenes in classic manga, it speaks directly to the hearts of those of us living in the present day.

Display it in your room, and it becomes encouragement when you’re feeling down.
Encounter it on social media, and it becomes vitality to power through today.

We’re reminded anew that the traditional art form of calligraphy can deliver such accessible and powerful messages.

Shourin Iwasaki continues to express memorable scenes from manga and anime, and words that resonate in the heart, through the world of calligraphy.

You’re sure to find a piece that speaks to you.

His daily-updated works might just make your tomorrow a little more positive.

＼　岩﨑翔凛のInstagramはこちら！　／

Bring the Vagabond Aesthetic into Your Space

And if this “Vagabond” work resonates with your heart, please take a look at the online shop.

Shourin Iwasaki has opened an online shop for his calligraphy works on STORES.
Works written on various themes, including “Vagabond,” await their meeting with new owners.

To welcome a piece of calligraphy into your room, into your workspace — this may not be simply interior decoration, but choosing a way of life.

Receive from these ink traces the courage to live as a vagabond.

＼　岩﨑翔凛のSTORESはこちら！　／