Meitokai

Yoshiyasu Fujii Blog Start		Hi! Welcome to the Meito Calligraphy Association Website The Meito Calligraphy Association is dedicated to the promotion , education and exhibition of Japanese calligraphy in the United States. We are headquarted in Redmond, Washington near Seattle and have two branch schools: one in Portland, Oregon and the other in Torrance, California. Our history: We founded our organization in January of 1996 as a nonprofit outreach program to the community in general. Originally, we were a Japanese calligraphy school founded by Akashi Shunpo, one of the great calligraphy masters of the second half of the twentieth century. One of his goals was to make Japanese calligraphy well known throughout the United States. After his untimely death in 1995, the members of the school decided to set up a nonprofit group to keep Mr. Akashi's dream alive. Thus was born the Meito Calligraphy Association. Our association's president and founder is one of Mr.Akashi's students, Master Calligrapher Yoshiyasu Fujii.
		We are now in our third year of operation and have had a member exhibition each year. Our 1998 theme was "Calligraphy for the Interior". Last year we had a three-city tour in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Portland. Our first year's theme was "Calligraphy, 3000 years of History". We actively seek Japanese speaking and English speaking members for our association. Currently, we are the largest Japanese calligraphy organization on the West Coast. We hope you enjoy looking at our Website. Feel free to contact us with any comments or questions. About Master Calligrapher Yoshiyasu Fujii Born 1963. Started doing calligraphy at age five.
		Thirty years experience as of 1998. Studied under Master Calligrapher Shunpo Akashi (1929 - 1995) for fourteen years. Experience in all major calligraphy styles; block, running, cursive, clerical, and seal in addition to kana, sumie, and seal carving. Winner of Mainichi Calligraphy Contest's Mainichi Prize 1990 and 1992. ( The Mainichi Calligraphy Contest is Japan's oldest, largest, and most prestigious calligraphy competition.) Honorable Mention 1991 Assistant Judge for Mainichi Calligraphy Contest Best Calligraphy Association in U.S. Award 1996 and 1997 Only Japanese Ministry of Education authorized calligraphy teacher in U.S. Guest calligraphy teacher and lecturer at Whitman College, Walla Walla Currently lecturing on the history of calligraphy in the Japan America Community Culture Center building in Los Angeles, California.
		Our Founder - Master Calligrapher Professor Shunpo Akashi (1929-1995) Career Highlights 1958: Winner of the Shodanin Calligraphy Exhibit Prime Ministerial Cabinet Prize 1960: Begins study under Kaneko Otei 1983: Becomes judge at Nitten Calligraphy Exhibition 1988: Becomes calligraphy instructor for Japan Sumo Federation 1990: Becomes professor of literature at Toyo University 1991: Establishes Akashi USA in Redmond, Washington. First officially accredited calligraphy school in America. 1993: Calligraphy demonstration at Bumbershoot Arts Festival, Seattle, Washington