Announcement of Nominations for the Tanabata Contest 2022
Announcement of Nominations for the Tanabata Contest 2022
Starting June 6, 2022, Shoyu Online invited submissions for the “Tanabata Contest” under the theme of “Writing Your Wishes by Hand,” and we received about 160 entries.
This was our first attempt at a contest related to Tanabata, and it turned out to be a very interesting one, as everyone’s wishes were unique and different.
We hope that by enjoying the many handwritten Tanabata works, this event helps to invigorate calligraphy activities even a little.
Thank you very much for participating in the Tanabata Contest.
Here, we are pleased to announce the nominated Tanabata works selected from all the contest submissions.
Grand Prize [1 Winner]
Excellence Award [3 Winners]
Originality Award [3 Winners]
Tanabata Award [3 Winners]
Grand Prize
oit_shodou
The Grand Prize of the Shoyu Online Tanabata Contest 2022 was awarded to oit_shodou.
[Reason for Award]
Magnificent Powerful Writing!
The powerful yet refined sharp lines of the regular script created a captivating atmosphere that drew in the viewer.
Excellent Use of Space
Clear and easy to read, the balance of black and white space within the single character was expressed with great skill.
A Wish Filled with Strong Determination as a Leader
In addition to its strength, the content conveyed a heartfelt wish filled with the strong determination of a leader, which was truly moving.
Excellence Award
The following works were selected for the Excellence Award:
- 0164.o.hiroshi
- kchi1027
- fudemoji_jikan
These were the awarded works.
Excellence Award: 0164.o.hiroshi
[Reason for Award]
Wonderful Expression of Both Idea and Emotion
Not only is it a truly wonderful wish, but the use of the paper space is skillfully expressed.
Moreover, it evokes the feeling of dazzling happiness pouring in, as if under the blue sky when held up to the light.
Excellence Award: kchi1027
[Work Title]
Home Garden
[Reason for Award]
Creative Tanzaku Arrangement and a Heartwarming Wish
The ingenuity of arranging tanzaku to resemble tomatoes, along with the carefully and simply written style, gives it real charm and won our hearts.
Excellence Award: fudemoji_jikan
[Work Title]
Second Grandchild
[Reason for Award]
A Wonderful Wish and a Steadfast Calligraphy Style
The straight and consistent calligraphy style conveys strength and a heartfelt wish, making us believe it will surely come true. Additionally, the bird illustration in the background harmonizes beautifully with the work.
Original Award
The winners of the Original Award are
- suzurin57
- rika.sakai.779
- shibashiba_uriton
Congratulations to these works.
Original Award: suzurin57
[Work Title]
During the COVID Pandemic
[Reason for Award]
Exquisite Flowing Lines and Outstanding Overall Balance
From the placement of the calligraphy on the tanzaku strip to the position of the seal, every aspect makes this a remarkable work. The flowing yet firm quality of the continuous lines led to this award.
Original Award: rika.sakai.779
[Reason for Award]
Magnificent Calligraphic Style with a Profound Presence and Excellent Character Arrangement
Beyond the poem itself, the arrangement and alignment of the characters are beautifully executed, making the overall composition exceptionally well thought out. The right-hand spacing around the character “兄” (older brother) is naturally balanced, resulting in a harmonious finish.
Original Award: shibashiba_uriton
[Work Title]
To All Shiba Inu Around the World
[Reason for Award]
Charming Expression with a Delightful Background Snapshot
A wonderfully creative and well-crafted piece. This may be just my impression, but the seal character “し” made me think of “Shiba” in Shiba Inu. The paw prints and drawings harmonized beautifully with the work, resulting in a balanced and delightful composition.
Tanabata Award
The recipients of the Tanabata Award are:
- saien.a_shodo
- happygift88
- minako_mrkm
Their works were selected for this honor.
Unique Award: saien.a_shodo
[Reason for Award]
It feels as though a beautiful melody can be heard from this work
Amidst its simple finish, it seems to play a beautiful melody that gently envelops the space in a relaxed atmosphere.
Unique Award: happygift88
[Work Title]
May the coronavirus come to an end
[Reason for Award]
Wishing that this heartfelt prayer will surely come true
Although it may appear to be written in a simple manner, the strength and forward-looking spirit are vividly expressed in the work.
Additionally, perhaps unconsciously, the spacing and balance have resulted in a beautifully composed piece.
Unique Award: minako_mrkm
[Reason for Award]
Beautiful dry brush strokes and excellent use of spacing
By extending the final stroke of the character "祈" slightly longer, a margin is created on the left side, easing the cramped feeling of the lower characters. In addition, the elegant dry brushwork further enhanced the overall quality of the piece.
This contest brought together many heartfelt wishes and a wide variety of works.
That concludes the introduction of the 10 winners of the Tanabata Contest 2022.
This was the first time we launched a new project with Tanabata as the theme, and we are truly grateful to the nearly 160 participants who joined us.
The various wishes were expressed powerfully and with great diversity, leaving us deeply moved.
We felt it was a reflection of the joy everyone finds in writing. We hope to continue creating opportunities where calligraphy can be shared more casually, contributing to the development of calligraphy in the future.
At Shoyu Online, we will continue to deliver content centered around the theme of “writing,” so that everyone can further enjoy the art of calligraphy.
We look forward to your participation in our next interactive project.