Help preserve our future
West Dean is part of a registered charity and relies on the support of generous donors, friends, legacies to help us deliver world-class education in conservation and the creative arts and maintain our award-winning gardens.
Yoko Takenami
Yoko started Japanese calligraphy at the age of seven and obtained
'shihan', certificate from Zenshogei in Japan to teach in 1990. She
published 'Simple Art of Japanese Calligraphy' in 2004 and has been
holding workshops and demonstrations in various occasions, such as
Arts in Action, Tokyo City Promotion in London, City of London
Festival and other private institutions.
Describe your approach to teaching.
My approach is to make sure that everyone feels comfortable and
well taken care of.
What inspires your own work?
The movement of the brush is very dynamic. It requires high level
of concentration to control the movement of the brush. This
concentration and the infinitive possibility of the brush work
which excites me.