PROFILE
PROFILE
SISYU
Calligrapher, Artist, and Professor at Osaka University of Arts
Sisyu transforms sho, the traditional Japanese art of calligraphy, into painting, sculpture, and media art, drawing out the emotions and principles contained within written characters. Her unique contemporary art brings Japanese thought and culture to the world. She received Buddhist ordination at Todai-ji Temple.
In Japan, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, now the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita, visited the SISYU exhibition. Sisyu was granted an audience and personally guided them through her works.
The Prince and Princess Akishino also viewed an exhibition of her work, which she personally introduced. Her Highness Princess Takamado has viewed her works as well.
She has celebrated sacred occasions through calligraphy for Ise Jingu (Celebrating the Shikinen Sengu), Kashihara Jingu (Kashihara Jingu), Meiji Jingu (Centennial of the Enshrinement at Meiji Jingu), and Kasuga Taisha (Celebrating the Shikinen Zotai).
Abroad, she became the first Japanese artist to receive two gold awards at the Salon of the Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts at the Carrousel du Louvre in France: a Gold Award for calligraphic painting and the highest Gold Award for sculpture. Her work was described as follows: Hokusai transformed three-dimensional space into a flat picture; Sisyu transformed flat written characters into three dimensions. The following year, she was selected as the Guest of Honor Artist and presented a large-scale exhibition, an achievement not attained by a Japanese artist since Yokoyama Taikan. She also created the entrance display for the Japan Pavilion at Expo Milano, which received a Gold Award in the exhibition design category.
Main Destinations of the Artworks
Japanese Government
Imperial Household Agency: calligraphy of a poem composed by His Majesty the Emperor; Cabinet Secretariat: JAPAN; Ministry of Foreign Affairs: APEC Japan 2010; Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: JAPAN and the Secretariat for the Promotion of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games; Japan Pavilion at Expo Milano; Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry: Cool JAPAN; Ministry of Defense: submarine Kenryu and Nihon Isshin.
NHK
Title calligraphy for the historical drama Ryomaden, the arts program Bi no Tsubo, Futto Toshi, and J.League.
Ise Jingu
Celebrating the Shikinen Sengu, created for the 62nd Shikinen Sengu; held in the collection of the Jingu Chokokan Museum.
Shrines and Temples
Kasuga Taisha, a World Heritage Site: Celebrating the Shikinen Zotai for the 60th renewal; Meiji Jingu: Centennial of the Enshrinement at Meiji Jingu; Kashihara Jingu: Kashihara Jingu; Todai-ji Temple; Kinpusen-ji Temple; Hase-dera Temple.
Companies
Shiseido: 21 versions of the character Light for its first globally unified design, sold in 88 countries; Suzuki Motor Corporation: corporate motto; Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance: Challenge; Mitsubishi Corporation; MGM.
Films
Inside Out: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear; Kainan 1890; Tengaramon.
Global Achievements
FranceOmbre Lumiere, MIZEN Fine Art International (2017) / Salon of the Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Carrousel du Louvre (2014/2015) / Clemenceau, the Tiger and Asia, Guimet Museum (2014) / Laval Virtual (2012).
ItalyArt Encounters, Olbia Archaeological Museum (2023) / The Red Dot, Palazzo del Medico, Carrara (2022) / Votre Spazi Contemporanei (2022) / Satori, perception of the spirit, Fondazione Luciana Matalon (2018) / Genoa International Boat Show, viewed by the Italian Deputy Prime Minister (2017) / Japan Pavilion, Expo Milano (2015) / SISYU, an Artist of Liberation; from 2D to 3D, Milan Design Week, Triennale Museum (2014/2017) / Exhibitions associated with the Venice Biennale (2005/2011).
SpainArt Maison Biennale 2015, multidisciplinary arts center in Madrid (2015).
SwitzerlandDavos, JAPAN NIGHT 2012, World Economic Forum 2012 Annual Meeting session (2012).
PolandLive calligraphy performance, Sluzew Culture Centre (2024) / Calligraphy workshop and lecture, Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology (2024) / Calligraphy workshop for Ukrainian refugee children, UNICEF Refugee Response Office in Poland (2024).
BelgiumLive calligraphy performance.
TurkeyLecture, Bogazici University (2018) / Lecture, Haci Bektas Veli Nevsehir University (2018) / Live performance and lecture, Caddebostan Kultur Merkezi (2018) / Third Japan-Turkey Youth Cultural Festival, live performance and lecture, Turkish Japanese Foundation Cultural Center (2018) / Japan Festival, live performance, Ankara Hilton SA (2018).
United StatesLive performance and public creation, Bellagio, Las Vegas (2019/2020) / Japan night, live performance, PlayStation Theater, New York (2019) / Live calligraphy performance, Bell Harbor International Conference Center, Seattle (2019) / SISYU New York solo exhibition, hpgrp GALLERY NEW YORK (2014) / University of Massachusetts Amherst / Morikami Museum.
IndonesiaCalligraphy workshop, Japanese supplementary school in Bali (2025).
MalaysiaEvents commemorating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Malaysia, calligraphy performance and lecture, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia and RUANG by Think City (2017) / SISYU and the Year of the Rooster 2017, ISETAN The Japan Store Kuala Lumpur (2017).
SingaporeNew Calligraphy: Freed from Paper and Tradition, ISETAN (2013) / Marina Bay.
ChinaSISYU Beyond Tradition: Freeing Characters from the Plane, K11 Art Museum (2025) / China International Import Expo, National Exhibition and Convention Center, Shanghai (2018) / Opening event for DONDONYA, Grand Gateway 66 Store (2015) / Purple Auspiciousness from the East Welcomes a Hundred Blessings, World Trade Centre, Hong Kong (2015) / The World Is So Kind and Beautiful, presented in Parkett – 220 Artists’ Editions & Collaborations since 1984 +5, Taipei Fine Arts Museum (2013) / First China International Fair for Trade in Services, JAPAN NIGHT (2012) / Future Pass, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (2012).
South KoreaJapan-China-Korea Cultural Forum: Cultural Exchange in the Post-COVID Era, live performance, Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel (2023).
EgyptJapan-Arab International Conference, exhibition demonstration, Alexandria (2007).
ArgentinaJapanese cultural introduction program dispatched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2009).
UruguayJapanese cultural introduction program dispatched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2009).
ChileJapanese cultural introduction program dispatched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2009) / Work held in the collection of the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Chile (2009).
Awards
Calligraphy of a poem composed by His Majesty the Emperor (2018).
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress viewed the SISYU exhibition (2017).
The Prince and Princess Akishino viewed the SISYU exhibition (2017).
Commendation from the Minister for Foreign Affairs (2026).
Gold Award, exhibition design category, Japan Pavilion at Expo Milano (2015).
Guest of Honor Artist, Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts, France (2015).
Gold Award and Jury Gold Award, Salon of the Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts, France (2014).
Artist representing Japan, Salon of the Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts, France (2014).
G1 New Generation Leader Award, culture category (2013).
Design Art and Culture Award, Laval Virtual, France (2012).
Special Letter of Appreciation from the Minister of Defense (2012).
Fifth Teshima Yukei Award (2010).
Advisory Committees
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology: Ministerial Roundtable on Human Resource Development for Society 5.0 (2017-2018);
Committee on Cultural Events and Related Initiatives toward 2020 (2014).
Cabinet Secretariat: Ise-Shima Summit Logo Selection Committee (2015).
NHK Central Broadcast Programs Council (2010-2014).
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