In November 2025, I created a new work titled “Inori (Prayer)” at the seaside of Shonan Hiratsuka. Unlike my usual studio environment, this was an experimental attempt to write calligraphy directly in nature. This article documents the actual process of creating and filming the piece on location.
CONTENTS
Preparation and Travel
I woke up at 3:00 a.m. while it was still completely dark outside. After preparing my tools, I loaded the brushes, Sumi ink, water containers, and filming equipment into the car and headed toward the beach in Hiratsuka. The air was cold, and small droplets had formed on the car windows. At the time of departure, Mount Fuji was covered in clouds, and the entire sky looked blurred in a dull gray. I thought, “I might not be able to see Fuji today,” but at the same time, I felt a quiet sense of obligation — that I should go anyway.
I arrived at the beach around 5:30 a.m. It was still dim, but the horizon was slowly beginning to brighten.
Changes in Weather and the Appearance of Mount Fuji
When I looked toward the west, I could faintly see the outline of Mount Fuji through the haze. However, a layer of clouds still hung above it, making me unsure whether filming conditions would improve. Even so, while I continued setting up the equipment, the eastern sky gradually turned red and purple. As the sun began to rise, the clouds suddenly cleared, and the air became strikingly transparent.
At that moment, any hesitation disappeared. It was clear that this would be the right day to proceed.
Beginning the Work
I fixed the F30 wooden canvas board (with washi mounted on top) onto the sand and soaked the brush with Sumi ink. There was no wind, and the sea surface was calm like a mirror. The only sound was the slow, consistent rhythm of the waves.
When I made the first stroke, the ink was absorbed into the paper and appeared to take on a faint glow. The morning sunlight hit the wet ink, and for a moment, the black surface reflected a gold-like shine. No one on the filming team spoke — everyone simply watched the scene unfold in silence.
After Finishing the Calligraphy
Once the work was completed, the sound of distant waves continued steadily. Even after stopping the camera, no one left the spot right away. As the light shifted minute by minute, the ink darkened as it dried, interacting with the texture of the washi and reflecting the last traces of the morning glow.
The colors of the sky and the sound of the sea from that morning remain vivid in my memory. “Inori” became a direct record of that experience — a single character created in a moment that could only have existed under those conditions.
Work Details
Title: Inori – Prayer Location: Shonan Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, Japan Size: F30 (91.0 × 72.7 cm) Material: Sumi ink on washi mounted on wooden canvas board Date of Creation: November 2025 Signature: Back, bottom right Seals: Front bottom left; back bottom right
This work and the accompanying footage will be used for the KANJI TOKYO archive and for international promotion. It was a day that reminded me of both the challenges of working outdoors and the special moments that can only be captured in nature.
What is MADARA?Pen name: Madara (MADARA) Real Name: I refrain from disclosing my real name in order to focus on my work and concepts. Date of birth: May 6, 1972, Fukushima …
