Uchiwa (Fan) Contest 2021 – Winners Announcement
Announcement of Natsu Uchiwa Contest 2021 Nominees
On June 1, 2021, Shoyu Online held the “Natsu Uchiwa Contest 2021,” inviting participants to express “My Summer” using a traditional Japanese fan (uchiwa).
Compared to the previous contest in 2019, the number of entries increased, and we enjoyed many works that beautifully captured the feeling of summer.
We sincerely thank everyone who submitted their wonderful creations.
We hope that by transforming everyday items into something more expressive through calligraphy, more people can experience the joy of shodo and contribute to its continued growth.
We are pleased to present the uchiwa artworks nominated in this year’s contest.
Grand Prize [1 Winner]
Excellence Award [3 Winners]
Unique Award [5 Winners]
Everlasting Summer Award [10 Winners]
Grand Prize
yoko.eri.shinohara
The Grand Prize winner of the Shoyu Online Natsu Uchiwa Contest 2021 is yoko.eri.shinohara.
[Reason for Award]
Beautiful Balance Between Calligraphy and Artwork
The first thing that stood out was the stunning use of color — simply breathtaking. The vibrant hues and the haiku by Kobayashi Issa harmonized perfectly with the blue sky, creating a truly captivating piece.
A Work That Captures the Essence of Summer
The depiction of the airplane contrail is beautifully rendered, giving the impression of soaring through the sky. The artist skillfully captured the summer sky and clouds in a way that conveys freshness and a pleasant coolness, despite the season’s heat.
Excellent Composition and Color Harmony
Although the calligraphy is placed toward the lower part of the fan, it feels light and airy, as if the letters are gently floating among the clouds. The haiku’s structure was carefully considered — with perfect variation in size, spacing, and ink tone — resulting in a truly outstanding work of art!
Excellence Award
The winners of the Excellence Award are:
- common_k.und_familie (Yuge National College of Maritime Technology Calligraphy Club)
- mymaimoji
- ichiko_0425015
These were the selected works.
Excellence Award: common_k.und_familie (Yuge National College of Maritime Technology Calligraphy Club)
[Reason for Award]
Majestic Scenery and Powerful Brushwork
In these times when travel has become rare, this piece evokes the exhilaration of standing before a vast, breathtaking landscape beyond the mountain pass, set against a vivid blue sea. The bold brushwork of the character “峠” (mountain pass) complements the composition beautifully.
Excellence Award: mymaimoji
[Reason for Award]
Subtle Beauty Hidden in Simplicity
The steady rhythm of the brushstrokes creates harmony throughout the piece. The balance between the black and white spaces gives it visual depth and vitality. The use and placement of color are exquisite and elevate the entire composition.
Excellence Award: ichiko_0425015
[Reason for Award]
Beautiful Colors and a Nostalgic Scene from the Past
This piece reminds us of the nostalgic scenes often seen at traditional candy shops long ago — the joy of receiving another treat when you got a “winning stick.” The soft and elegant colors of the ice pop are beautifully rendered, and the use of light ink gives off a wonderfully retro atmosphere that makes you almost crave a taste.
Unique Award
The winners of the Unique Award are:
- marble._.photo
- h.rumi.art
- kakiyaquzan
- yoshikobanba
- common_k.und_familie (Yuge National College of Maritime Technology Calligraphy Club)
These were the selected works.
Unique Award: h.rumi.art
[Reason for Award]
Simply Mesmerizing
The overall balance, layout, and scattering of ink are all perfectly executed, making this a piece that you can’t help but admire. The use of light ink and gold accents is especially beautiful and elegantly finished.
Unique Award: h.rumi.art
[Reason for Award]
Simply Mesmerizing
The overall balance, layout, and scattering of ink are all perfectly executed, making this a piece that you can’t help but admire. The use of light ink and gold accents is especially beautiful and elegantly finished.
Unique Award: kakiyaquzan
[Reason for Award]
Perfect Harmony Between the Fan’s Texture and the Ink Tone
This piece gracefully presents a *dodoitsu* poem — a traditional Japanese verse written in a 7-7-7-5 rhythm — in a natural and unpretentious kana style. The ink tone blends beautifully with both the fan’s texture and the paper color, resulting in a refined, distinctly Japanese aesthetic full of atmosphere and elegance.
Unique Award: yoshikobanba
[Reason for Award]
A Dynamic Artwork That Feels Ready to Move
This piece conveys the powerful impression of boldly facing turbulent waves — not only in sports but also in life and work. The vivid colors, the motion of the waves, and the surfer’s poised balance together create a sense of energy so strong that the entire artwork seems as if it could come to life at any moment.
Unique Award: common_k.und.familie (Yuge Maritime College Calligraphy Club)
[Reason for Award]
A Work That Truly Evokes the Feeling of Summer
The vivid colors and the delicate spark-like strokes give the impression of real sparklers crackling in the night. Just by looking at this piece, one can feel a moment of summer — a scene so full of warmth and light that it naturally brightens the heart.
Everlasting Summer Award
The recipients of the Everlasting Summer Award are:
- satoimo758
- tamaki_naga
- sho.kaori1125
- corbeau_glass33
- shizuru_k
- cienakagawa
- zag04659
- artsho_tsukuribito_creator_asa
- shosen1927
- kubo_kosen
These were the selected works.
Everlasting Summer Award: satoimo758
[Reason for Award]
The Ink Painting of a Crab Is Truly Striking
The combination of Shimazaki Tōson’s poem and the expressive ink painting of the crab complement each other beautifully. Each brushstroke in the calligraphy is executed with care, and the overall balance and power of the crab create the vivid impression that it might leap right out of the fan.
Everlasting Summer Award: tamaki_naga
[Reason for Award]
Cool and Playfully Pop — Absolutely Charming
The combination of the lettering and background is exquisite. The numerous colorful circles in the background are beautifully rendered, creating a refreshing and cool impression — a depiction of summer that feels light and breezy rather than hot and intense.
Everlasting Summer Award: sho.kaori1125
[Reason for Award]
An Inspiring and Encouraging Work
The dynamic calligraphic style harmonizes perfectly with the soft marbling in the background. The balance of ink throughout the piece and the spacing within the letter “g” in “Fight” are particularly exceptional.
Everlasting Summer Award: corbeau_glass33
[Reason for Award]
Letters in Harmony with the Refreshing Colors of a Jellyfish
The piece evokes a soothing image of a jellyfish gliding gracefully through the sea. The fan’s rounded shape perfectly complements the jellyfish, giving the impression of a gentle, floating motion. The placement of the calligraphy is beautifully balanced with both the fan and the jellyfish, creating a wonderfully composed work.
Everlasting Summer Award: shizuru_k
[Reason for Award]
Beautifully Vibrant Fireworks Colors
The simple night sky background and the vividly colored fireworks are beautifully expressed, creating an elegant piece that captures the joy of summer. It almost gives the illusion that the fireworks are bursting right before your eyes.
Everlasting Summer Award: cienakagawa
[Reason for Award]
Excellent Use of Tones and Colors
The overall color placement is beautifully done, giving a heartwarming impression. The use of color in the leaves and background is skillfully expressed, creating an effect as if the scene is softly illuminated by light.
Everlasting Summer Award: zag04659
[Reason for Award]
Captivated by the Simplicity and Sincerity of the Style
The blurred background of the fan and the calligraphic style are in perfect harmony. The composition and balance between the characters and the overall design are skillfully executed. The idea of creating the fan in a vertical orientation was truly original. A sense of sincerity and purity radiates from this piece.
Everlasting Summer Award: artsho_tsukuribito_creator_asa
[Reason for Award]
Calligraphy That Evokes the Essence of Summer
This calligraphic style perfectly captures the feeling of summer. The brushstrokes flow beautifully, and the scattered ink around the characters for “Natsumeku” (to feel like summer) enhances the overall impact of the piece.
Everlasting Summer Award: shosen1927
[Reason for Award]
A Heartwarming Piece Full of Seasonal Charm
The cutout artwork is beautifully done, and the cherries look truly delicious. The flow of the river is skillfully expressed, and the image of the small boat gently floating creates a simple yet elegant atmosphere that is utterly delightful.
Everlasting Summer Award: kubo_kosen
[Reason for Award]
The Gently Glowing Fireflies Evoke a Feeling of Tenderness
The clean and refined composition beautifully combines calligraphy with the delicate depiction of fireflies. The soft brushstrokes and the gentle yellow background harmonize perfectly, creating an enchanting piece that captures the viewer’s heart.
A Contest Full of Creative and Delightful Expressions of Summer
Here we have introduced the 19 winners of the Summer Fan Contest.
We received even more submissions than last time, each one filled with creativity and the essence of summer.
Many people are spending a different kind of summer this year, but seeing these uplifting fan artworks naturally brought smiles and joy to our hearts.
Through events like this, we hope to continue contributing to the growth and enjoyment of calligraphy.
At Shoyu Online, we share content centered around the theme of “writing,” so that everyone can find new ways to enjoy calligraphy.
We warmly invite you to join us in our next participatory event!