Looking back at a heartwarming cultural exchange event in 2018.
I participated in the “PEACE FOOD PROJECT 2018,” welcoming young culinary elites selected from the SAFFI National Culinary School in Florence, Italy.
A Reunion of Art and Food
Two years prior to this event, I had performed a calligraphy show in Florence. It was a joy to reunite with the school and welcome their “Young Food Culture Ambassadors” to Japan as they traveled (including a visit to Kawagoe) to discover and learn about “Peace Food.”
To welcome them, I held a special Shodo Live performance in Tokyo.
“Wa” (Harmony) and a Message for the Future
In the center of a large paper spread on the floor, I wrote the character 「和」 (Wa).
“Wa” signifies Harmony, Peace, and Japan itself.
Along with this character, I added a message of encouragement to the students:
“Young food culture ambassadors of Italy, connect your moving experiences in Japan to the future.”
Writing Together
After my performance, I invited the students to pick up brushes and join me on the paper.
They freely wrote words like “DIVERSITY” and “STUPORE” (Wonder), filling the space with their thoughts and energy.
It was a beautiful moment where the borders between Italy and Japan, Food and Art, dissolved into a shared experience of creation.
Yabe Chosho Office
