To bring World Heritage Mount Fuji closer to children, a Fuji-themed New Year calligraphy contest, “Fujisan Kakizome 2018” (organized by The Mainichi Newspapers and the certified NPO Fujisan World Heritage National Conference), was held for the first time this year. A show of prize works is on in the free space beside the east entrance on the first floor of the Palaceside Building.
Fuji was inscribed as a World Cultural Heritage site in June 2013. To protect this Japanese cultural heritage the world can be proud of, more people need to take an interest and join work to pass it on — that wish, we are told, is why “Fujisan Kakizome 2018” was held.
Works were invited in lower-elementary, upper-elementary and junior-high divisions; 13,297 entries came in, and six judges (chair Kyoji Nakagawa, director of the Mainichi Calligraphy Association and chair of the Independent Calligraphers’ Group) chose grand prizes and other awards.
The set phrases were, by division: “fuji” / “morning glow”; “Mount Fuji” / “white snow”; “sacred peak Fuji” / “summit.”
On view are 18 works, six per division, including the grand-prize winners: Kazujo Kodama, first year, Kawazoe Elementary, Takamatsu; Hikari Yabe, sixth year, Sagara Elementary, Makinohara, Shizuoka; and Kotomi Matoba, second year, Nishihama Junior High, Wakayama. An awards ceremony will also be held on the 21st (Sunday) in Mainichi Hall on the first basement of the Palaceside Building.
The show runs through the 24th (Wednesday). Admission free.