August 29, 2026

On the afternoon of Saturday, August 29th, a calligraphy class was held at Innisfree Garden in Millbrook. Although there had been concerns about the weather, the day turned out beautifully, with a hint of autumn in the air. We set up tables and chairs on a slightly elevated bank overlooking the large pond to prepare for the event.

Seventeen registered participants gathered for the class. After our chair, Karen Hawkins, introduced the instructor, Ms. Michiko Baribeau—who is deeply knowledgeable in various Japanese arts such as the tea ceremony, ikebana (flower arranging), and tanka poetry—the session began with a lecture on the fundamentals of calligraphy.

We volunteers found ourselves captivated as she explained techniques such as how to hold and maneuver the brush. She taught us to hold the brush upright and place the tip at a 45-degree angle before drawing lines horizontally or vertically. She used onomatopoeia to demonstrate the movements—ton (tap), suu (glide), ton (tap), and su (flick/sweep)—vocalizing the sounds as she wrote. The students also called out these sounds while earnestly learning the brushwork, practicing the kanji numerals for one, two, and three, followed by characters like "sun" and "moon." While we used bottled ink for this session, Ms. Baribeau explained that grinding ink on an inkstone is also an integral part of calligraphy; the students seemed fascinated to learn how traditional Japanese disciplines often embody the concept of "the Way" (do).

At the end of the class, Ms. Baribeau wrote each student's name in katakana on hanshi paper and handed it to them personally. Everyone was delighted, taking photos with Ms. Baribeau and enjoying what was truly a fulfilling afternoon.

We volunteers assisted by distributing paper and replenishing ink, working together in a friendly atmosphere to ensure the class proceeded smoothly.

It was our first time holding a calligraphy class outdoors, and the experience of learning beneath the trees in the refreshing breeze made it a memorable day for us all.

We would like to express our gratitude to Michelle and the staff at Innisfree Garden, and we hope to continue engaging in cultural exchange together in the future. To everyone involved in the calligraphy class: thank you for your hard work and dedication.

MHJCA