KOHO

KOHO (香寳) is a calligrapher born in 1996. She began studying calligraphy at the age of five and went on to specialize in the discipline throughout high school and university, developing a broad foundation that spans classical traditions to contemporary calligraphy. She is particularly skilled in clerical script (lishu) and commands a wide range of calligraphic styles. In addition to creating original works, she is active across diverse fields, including corporate logo design, spatial and architectural installations, and live calligraphy performances. She aspires to share the richness of Japanese calligraphic culture both in Japan and internationally.

KOHO’s artistic style is characterized by refined expression that integrates a contemporary sensibility while resting on a solid foundation of traditional calligraphy. While inheriting the spirit of classical calligraphy, she creates works that harmonize with modern spaces and pursues new possibilities for calligraphy beyond conventional frameworks.

The history of calligraphy begins in ancient China with the emergence of written characters. Early forms such as oracle bone script and bronze inscriptions functioned not only as records but also embodied a strong sense of visual beauty. During the Qin and Han dynasties, seal script and clerical script were systematized, while in the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, running script and cursive script, epitomized by Wang Xizhi, were brought to maturity, establishing calligraphy as a true art form.

Calligraphy was introduced to Japan along with Chinese characters in the 5th to 6th centuries, and during the Heian period, Japanese-style calligraphy (wayō) emerged, shaping a distinctly Japanese aesthetic. Since then, calligraphy has developed both as a practical skill and as an art, and in the modern era continues to expand into diverse forms of expression grounded in tradition.

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