Neru's calligraphy on display at Tokyo shrine

Nagahama Neru's calligraphy is now on display at a Shinto shrine in Tokyo.

In the December issue of Brody magazine, Neru is shown doing calligraphy at a West Tokyo shrine. It is part of series in which Neru and Hirate learn traditional Japanese arts. Hirate has done karate, Neru tea ceremony and calligraphy.

At the time, the calligraphy master under whom Neru was working praised her work, saying that she could show the best of it anywhere without embarrassment. Wow.

Now the shrine has put the biggest piece -- the character kokoro "heart," done with a brush four feet long -- on display in its sacred-dance pavilion. (click images to enlarge)

I'm not sure this is part of her "best work" -- at the time, Neru said she found it hard to use the big brush. But it is clearly done by someone who has the spirit of calligraphy. Neru said in the Brody interview that she has done calligraphy since elementary school, and enjoys it. In the interview, she rattled off the names of the various major forms and praised the great Wang Xizhi (China, ~300AD) whom many consider the god of all calligraphers. For me, East Asian calligraphy is the supreme art.

Neru also did a number of other characters, including "keyaki." Her version of the complex character was clear and balanced.

The Tanashi shrine is in Nishitokyo, between Tanashi and Seibu-Yagisawa stations, on the Seibu Shinjuku line. Here's a link to a Google Map. And here's the Shrine's website. Here's the announcement on the Keyakizaka46 official site.

The shrine's full announcement says that the exhibit is scheduled to be up from December 11 to January 11, but cautions that it could end without notice. The possibility of otaku on pilgrimage disturbing worshippers occurred to me. Of course, if I were still in Tokyo, as I was for a week or so last month, I would be one of them.

Shinto is an everyday, popular religion. It does not reject all popular culture. In fact, this shrine apparently has a sign up in English about Pokemon GO. And there are notices about the shrine being occupied by a drama-taping on some days. Shrines need income, too.

Neru's signature is also enjoyable to look at. Her name, "Neru," and the simple stamp "Naga":

 
Too bad about the little smudge. It happens.


Here she is in the act of writing the big character, last September/October:

The shrine's website says they have put it in the dance pavilion so visitors can photograph it. I guess they had to cover it with glass, but the reflections are a problem. More photos of the installation: