My philosophy is that culture gains life through
transmission. To protect Japan's declining culture, I must deliberately become
a rebel. Tontoku is an
outsider, unlike previous Japanese calligraphy artists. While preserving culture, she strives to create art that is interesting, fascinating, intriguing, and downright
crazy.Another conviction of Tontoku is that art constitutes a vital part of education. Drawing art, viewing art, engaging with art – art that sharpens all five senses is unquestionably an element of education. As an educator herself, Tontoku is uniquely positioned to convey the importance of art within educational settings for future generations. Her minimalist, peculiar works transcend calligraphy, giving birth to a new era.
Born in Japan, Tontoku began her career as a home economics teacher before moving to Milan, Italy, where she studied fashion for four years and worked as a fashion designer assistant. Immersed in Italian fashion, design, architecture, art, and culture, she developed a refined sense of color, rhythm, and composition—foundations that later shaped her abstract calligraphy.
After returning to Japan, she worked as a fashion buyer, traveling extensively overseas. Following her marriage, she lived in the United Kingdom for seven years, where the experience of multicultural family life deepened her understanding of human connection and cultural coexistence. Upon returning to Japan, she resumed teaching home economics at Gunma Kokusai Academy while developing her practice as a contemporary calligrapher.
Her works have been exhibited at Galleria Azur in New York, at Van Gogh Art Gallery in Madrid and Paris. She also led a workshop at the United Nations International School(UNIS) in New York and collaborated with the Italian fashion brand Fillippo Grandulli. Balancing her roles as teacher, mother, wife, and artist, Tontoku shares the beauty of Japanese culture and the value of multicultural harmony through her art.
Artistic Vision
Her work seeks to reinterpret Japanese tradition in contemporary forms that resonate with modern life and aesthetics. Through the pursuit of “silence in selflessness,” “the beauty of blank space,” and “the beauty of imperfection,” she aspires to convey peace and gentleness. In today’s world, where connections between cultures and people are fragile, Tontoku's art aims to embody harmony and remind us of its importance. By valuing the interplay of education and art, she strives to serve as a cultural bridge from Japan to the world, weaving a compassionate future for the next generation.
Calligraphy has been selected as Japan's candidate for nomination to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2026. I feel it is my mission to evolve Japan's declining calligraphy into new forms and spread it throughout the world.
