Centennial Celebration: First Exhibition of Calligrapher Shido Matsushita, Active in NITTEN, Held in His Hometown Toyohashi

Shido Matsushita was born in 1926 (Showa 1) in Maeshiba-cho, Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture. After his first selection in the NITTEN exhibition in 1955, he became active in the same exhibition. He served as a judge many times, held important positions, and received the Minister of Education Award, the Japan Art Academy Prize, and the Imperial Prize, establishing an unshakeable position as a calligrapher. The Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art in Toyohashi City will hold an exhibition for the first time to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Matsushita's birth, looking back at his calligraphy career and works. Enjoy Matsushita's Beautiful World of Light Ink The exhibition will feature representative works such as "Kaka-sui" (owned by the Japan Art Academy), for which he received the Japan Art Academy Prize at the 1997 NITTEN exhibition, "Ko-ko" (owned by Toyohashi City Museum of Art), and "Kasuga Suiki Gengen" dedicated to his hometown Maeshiba Shinmeisha shrine. Approximately 70 calligraphy works will be on display. The exhibition also introduces works such as "Manyo-ka" using the decorative paper Matsushita favored, the calligraphy of his master Suiken Suzuki for whom Matsushita also handled the decorative paper, and woodblocks for decorative paper. Please enjoy Matsushita's beautiful world of light ink, created with the belief of approaching calligraphy naturally and without pretense. A Poem by Kakinomoto no Hitomaro from "The Manyoshu" About Shido Matsushita As a child, he was fascinated by the calligraphy examples in national textbooks created by the calligrapher Suiken Suzuki from Tahara City, Aichi Prefecture, and began studying under him in 1947. While learning a wide range of classics such as Wang Xizhi's "Wang Ting Jing" and Kukai's "Sanjō Sakushi," he established his own style of calligraphy. He is also known for handling the decorative paper for Suiken Suzuki's masterpiece "Manyo Senshu." After his first selection in the NITTEN exhibition in 1955, he received special awards in 1959 and 1961. He was recommended as a member in 1963 and subsequently served as a judge and held important positions many times. In 1994, he received the Minister of Education Award at NITTEN, and in 1998, he received the Japan Art Academy Prize and the Imperial Prize. Based in Tsushima City, Aichi Prefecture, he established the Yukenkai and Kōbunkai associations, contributing to the promotion of calligraphy in the Chubu region by training disciples. Shido Matsushita Exhibition - Effortlessly Fluid Light Ink Calligraphy - Dates: Saturday, June 27, Reiwa 8 (2026) - Sunday, July 12, Reiwa 8 (2026), 9:00 - 17:00 (Closed on Mondays) Location: Exhibition Rooms 3 & 4, 1st Floor, Toyohashi City Museum of Art Admission Fee: Free Commemorative Lecture: "Centennial Celebration: Shido Matsushita and the Suiken School" Date: Saturday, July 4, Reiwa 8 (2026), 14:00~ Location: Toyohashi City Museum of Art Lecturer: Mr. Toshinori Amano (Director, Tahara City Museum)