Matsudo Mutsumi High School Calligraphy Club Wins Top 'Kobo Daishi Award' at Koyasan Competition for 3 Consecutive Years! A 'Path of Calligraphy' Forged Together by Teacher and Students
Key facts
- Matsudo Mutsumi High School Calligraphy Club Wins Top 'Kobo Daishi Award' at Koyasan Competition for 3 Consecutive Years! A 'Path of Calligraphy' Forged Together by Teacher and Students
- The Matsudo Mutsumi High School Calligraphy Club has won the top 'Kobo Daishi Award' at the Koyasan Calligraphy Competition for the third consecutive year.
- Source: PR Times
- Date: March 28, 2026
Direct answer
The Matsudo Mutsumi High School Calligraphy Club has won the top 'Kobo Daishi Award' at the Koyasan Calligraphy Competition for the third consecutive year.
- Citation
- Matsudo Mutsumi High School Calligraphy Club Wins Top 'Kobo Daishi Award' at Koyasan Competition for 3 Consecutive Years! A 'Path of Calligraphy' Forged Together by Teacher and Students (March 28, 2026), PR Times
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- March 28, 2026
The Matsudo Mutsumi High School Calligraphy Club has won the top 'Kobo Daishi Award' at the Koyasan Calligraphy Competition for the third consecutive year.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 28, 2026 at 16:40
- 🔍 Collected: March 28, 2026 at 21:59 (5h 19m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 07:38 (417h 39m after Collected)
At the main gate of Chiba Prefectural Matsudo Mutsumi High School, located in a quiet residential area of Rokkodai, Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, visitors are greeted by the monthly schedule and 'Words of the Month' written in brush calligraphy by members of the calligraphy club. As this gate calligraphy suggests, the Matsudo Mutsumi High School Calligraphy Club is making remarkable strides.
The club has become a notable presence, often referred to as the 'Matsudo Mutsumi of Calligraphy,' by consistently winning awards at prestigious events such as the 'Koyasan Calligraphy Competition' (hosted by Koyasan Kongobuji Temple) held annually in Koyasan, Wakayama Prefecture, and the 'International High School Calligraphy Exhibition' (hosted by The Mainichi Newspapers and the Mainichi Shodo Association), known as the 'Koshien of Calligraphy.'
In particular, the club has secured the top 'Kobo Daishi Award' at the Koyasan Calligraphy Competition for three years in a row. Following Momoka Hoshi (then a 2nd-year student) at the 57th competition in 2023 and Sawa Abe (then a 3rd-year student) at the 58th in 2024, Mao Matsumoto (a 3rd-year student) has won the award at the 59th competition this year, continuing the club's momentum.
※Information in this document is current as of March 27, 2026.
The 'Matsudo Mutsumi Style' Calligraphy Environment
Regarding the reasons for this success, club advisor Rina Kamakura, who teaches calligraphy to the students daily, humbly prefaced by saying, 'I think it's because the students who love calligraphy are working hard,' before explaining further.
'When I arrived five years ago, the students were already skilled. I was impressed by their motivation and politeness. Perhaps the environment for engaging with calligraphy is also a factor. There are no busy train stations or entertainment spots nearby; the school is nestled in a peaceful residential area. Perhaps because of this, chatting with friends has become a major joy in their school life. In the club room, they often discuss their work together,' she said, citing motivation, autonomy, and an environment conducive to focus.
While one might imagine calligraphy as a silent atmosphere of facing paper in solitude, the students sometimes listen to music or even eat snacks while working. 'I just hope the calligraphy room can be a place where everyone feels at home,' says Kamakura with a smile.
There is another key to the Matsudo Mutsumi High School Calligraphy Club's success in sweeping competitions nationwide: Kamakura 'runs alongside' her students, sharing the time spent enjoying calligraphy and elevating it into a strength.
'To enjoy calligraphy, you also need achievements in competitions. I didn't win the Kobo Daishi Award when I was in my high school calligraphy club. So, of course, I am genuinely happy when my students win...'
FAQ
Which high school calligraphy club has won the top Kobo Daishi Award at the Koyasan Calligraphy Competition for three consecutive years?
The Matsudo Mutsumi High School Calligraphy Club in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture has secured the top Kobo Daishi Award at the Koyasan Calligraphy Competition for three consecutive years.
In which years and at which editions of the Koyasan Calligraphy Competition did Matsudo Mutsumi High School students Momoka Hoshi, Sawa Abe, and Mao Matsumoto each win the Kobo Daishi Award?
Momoka Hoshi won the Kobo Daishi Award at the 57th Koyasan Calligraphy Competition in 2023, Sawa Abe earned the same award at the 58th competition in 2024, and Mao Matsumoto received the award at the 59th competition held in 2026, continuing the club’s streak.
What are the host institutions of the Koyasan Calligraphy Competition and the International High School Calligraphy Exhibition mentioned in the article?
The Koyasan Calligraphy Competition is hosted by Koyasan Kongobuji Temple in Wakayama Prefecture, while the International High School Calligraphy Exhibition is organized by The Mainichi Newspapers together with the Mainichi Shodo Association and is popularly called the “Koshien of Calligraphy.”
Who is the current advisor of the Matsudo Mutsumi High School Calligraphy Club, and what did she attribute the club’s success to?
The club’s advisor, Rina Kamakura, who began teaching calligraphy there five years ago, says the students’ love for calligraphy, their hard work, motivation, and politeness create the environment that leads to the club’s repeated award successes.
Where is the main gate of Chiba Prefectural Matsudo Mutsumi High School located, and what decorative feature does it display each month according to the article?
The main gate of Chiba Prefectural Matsudo Mutsumi High School stands in the quiet residential area of Rokkodai in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, and it displays a monthly schedule and “Words of the Month” written in brush calligraphy by club members.