AOI YAMAGUCHI CALLIGRAPHY

Category: Commission

『心花』-Tokimeki- for TATCHA

[vc_row][vc_column][rs_special_text]『心花』-Tokimeki- for TATCHA[/rs_special_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I had a pleasure to work on a commission for TATCHA, a Japanese-inspired, American skincare brand that focuses on traditional Japanese beauty wisdom and ingredients. I wrote “心花” (Tokimeki) for a video content, in support of their May Moisturizers campaign – where they are promoting and celebrating the Dewy Skin Cream as a rich comforting glow, and our Water Cream as a burst of joy. “心花” (Tokimeki) means fluttering in Japanese. I have worked with TATCHA for multiple projects for many years, and I cherish this another wonderful opportunity to have worked on this special large-scale piece.

You can watch the full video from here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_btn title=”watch the video on instagram” style=”classic” shape=”square” color=”inverse” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fp%2FDKSrioBz6sx%2F”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

August 26, 2025
Calligraphy for Blue Eye Samurai on Netflix

[vc_row][vc_column][rs_special_text]Calligraphy for Blue Eye Samurai: On View on Netflix[/rs_special_text][/vc_column][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ1yQn17lbE” align=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I had an honor to work on the kanji title of @netflix Blue Eye Samurai, 『碧眼』— “Blue Eye”.

「碧」(blue) is also part of my name 碧生 — but I wanted this 「碧」to be unique, in a way that reminds viewers of the protagonist Mizu.

I was looking at Mizu’s eyes, the sharp, elongated, handsome eyes. Then exploring the various writing styles from historical references, I resonated with the style of Zhao Mengfu in Yuan Era, with 5th stroke 白 (white) similar to the sharp Mizu’s eyes. From this idea as a starting point, I worked on versions of sketches. I had this remark from the director Jane Wu – even “silence before drawing the sword” to be translated into the movement of brushstrokes, lingering in my head.

Finally, we landed to the final design — the first stroke of both characters are written in a triangular shape that evoke an imagery of the moment when a Katana (sword) being drawn out of its Saya (case). 碧 with that Mizu’s sharp eye. The last stroke of 眼 piercing through the 9th vertical stroke, which reminds you of the last sword movement that pierces through the opponent with no hesitation.

Thank you Amber Noizumi, Michael Green, Jane Wu and especially Nicholas Cofrancesco for the wonderful opportunity to work with and trusting me with the process.

Original works written with a horse hair brush with Sumi ink on high-grade gasen-shi paper.

Read interview on TUDUM Netflix: Immerse Yourself in This ‘Blue Eye Samurai’ Research Guide to Edo-Period Japan
“Calligraphy was central to communication and reflected the style of the writer.”

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11月3日Netflixにて配信開始となった「Blue Eye Samurai / ブルー・アイ・サムライ」の漢字題字揮毫、また劇中の様々なシーンに登場する、手紙、看板、刀剣制作工程などの、手書きの筆文字の多くを手がけました。

題字の『碧眼』については、私の名前の一部である「碧」が入っていることからより思い入れも深く、いかにこの二文字を、作品の看板となる題字として「Blue Eye Samurai」を代弁できるような表現が出来るかに試行錯誤しました。

着想を得たのは主人公「みず」のその鋭い眼。復讐の旅に出る孤独な侍の断固として揺るぎなくも、どこか繊細で鋭いシャープ感がある目の形をスケッチしながら書体を考察して行く中で、趙孟頫の「碧」の白の書き方にみずの瞳を彷彿とさせるものがあると思い、そこからデザインを展開していきました。監督ジェーンの「刀を抜く前の静けさをも」表現するような線を書いてほしい、との声を、何度も反芻しながら。

最終的に辿り着いたのは、刀を鞘から抜き取る瞬間を思わせるような運筆で書いた「碧」と「眼」の第一画目、みずの眼をイメージした「白」のある「碧」、そして対峙者を一瞬で仕留めるような鋭く迅速な刀裁きをイメージした「眼」の最終画は九画目の縦線を貫く形。全体として、一寸の油断も許さないような力強くスピード感ある運筆で、この若き侍のスレンダーな身なりと卓越した刀の動きとを想いながら揮毫しました。

制作に関わってから２年、ついに公開を迎え、感慨深い思いです。脚本を書かれたアンバー・ノイズミ、マイケル・グリーン(LOGAN／ローガン、Blade Runner 2049/ブレード・ランナー2049)、監督のジェーン・ウー率いる才能溢れる制作チームの一員として、書を通して制作に関われたことを光栄に思います。ハリウッドならではのスリル溢れるアクションは言うまでもなく、また違った角度から日本文化と歴史を、そして人種・アイデンディティについても考えさせられる、日本への深い愛を感じられる作品だと思います。ぜひご高覧いただけたら嬉しいです！[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][rs_image_block align=”align-center” image=”8105″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row padding=”pt-70 pb-70 pt-xs-50 pb-xs-50″][vc_column width=”1/3″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][rs_buttons btn_size=”btn-medium” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.netflix.com%2Ftitle%2F81144203″ btn_text=”WATCH BLUE EYE SAMURAI ON NETFLIX” text_color=”#ffffff” background_color=”#333333″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

November 3, 2023
“ONI: Thunder God’s Tale” by Tonko House x Netflix released on Oct 21, 2022

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/PgSYux7UcXU” align=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Tonko House’s newest animated miniseries “ONI: Thunder God’s Tale”, which I had a honor of working on the calligraphy title for, was released on @netflix worldwide on Friday, October 21, 2022!

We had a ONI crew screening & wrap party a week before the release date in West Hollywood, which was full of tears and laughters, rollercoaster of emotions… it was so incredible.

While watching Onari’s journey, I saw myself in her and Naridon’s struggles — I was remembering the time when I decided Japanese calligraphy to be my career for my life. I asked myself, “What is it that only I can do, and no one else can? What was I born to do in my lifetime, in this world?” And then I remembered my master’s words when I received the first prize from the Minister of Education for my calligraphy when I was 14 years old — in his gentle, graceful voice, he said slowly — “Aoi-san, this is telling you that you must continue to practice calligraphy.”

It was the path I chose for my life. It was about realizing what I have, what I grew up to do, accepting it as my fate, and commit to it as a responsibility to nurture, to grow with, to continue to share with the world, and to pass it on to the next generation. And this path, Japanese calligraphy, has brought me many meaningful encounters that I hold dear to my heart.

Accepting, believing, and stand for the belief — the power is all within you.

This epic series “ONI” is full of emotions and beauty throughout — adorable and irresistible characters, magnificent light in every scene, vibrant colors and shades of nature, powerful music scores that tells a story itself… both traditional and modern Japanese culture depicted so authentic yet new. This is a tale that only the director Daisuke “Dice” Tsutsumi can tell, and only Tonko House can create. I’m more than grateful and fortunate to have been part of it.

I can’t wait for the whole world to experience #ONI!

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#oni #onithundergodstale #tonkohouse #netflixanime #神々山のおなり[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”WATCH ONI on NETFLIX NOW” style=”classic” shape=”square” color=”black” align=”center” i_icon_fontawesome=”fas fa-caret-square-right” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.netflix.com%2Ftitle%2F81028343″ css=”.vc_custom_1667442779604{background-color: #ffffff !important;}”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

October 21, 2022
Calligraphy Logo for Omakase San Francisco

Earlier this year, I worked on a calligraphy logo for Omakase, a new high-end Edo-mae style sushi restaurant in SOMA district of San Francisco. They just opened in September this year, and recently won a 2016 Michelin Guide star! I heard that now there’s a month-long wait for reservation, which made me really to happy to hear. I finally got to experience dining at Omakase this week, and witnessed the packed, fun and lively sushi counter in action.

My calligraphy “おまかせ” (Omakase – meaning “chef’s choice) engraved on a wood slab for the interior alcove at Omakase.

Chef Yoshihito prepping food at the sushi counter.

Calligraphy logo “Omakase” I worked on is engraved on the wooden cover of their food menu.

Omakase serves fresh sashimi fish imported straight from Tsukiji Market everyday. One of the best dish I had was the uni, sea urchin from Hokkaido and their home-marinated ikura (I’ve always thought that my grandma’s home-marinated ikura in Hokkaido was the best, but really, it was very close to the best flavor of ikura shoyu-zuke that I know. Yes, Hokkaido is my hometown and don’t get me wrong, I may be biased. 😉 ). They also blend their own sashimi soy sauce – I love such chef’s original “kodawari” in those details.

I don’t have much photos of the food to post here, as I wanted to focus on being in the moment and enjoying the dining experience with my parter, friends and restaurant staff. Sorry! You can enjoy more beautiful photos on their website: http://www.omakasesf.com/

Their selection of beautiful Japanese tea pots on traditional Japanese wooden cabinet in the restaurant. Business cards with the restaurant’s logo on the left.

“Check please.” – English “Omakase” logo on the leather cover of the bill folder.

With Omakase chefs: Yoshihito Yoshimoto, me, Jackson Yu, and Ingi Son (from the left)

It’s always exciting to have my calligraphy works being part of unique experiences, made by people who strive for excellence in their creation. Congratulations to staff, chef and everyone at Omakase. Special thanks and applause to Aya Yanagisawa for your hard work, and making me part of this project.

Japanese cuisine is booming at every corner in San Francisco Bay Area. There are numbers of new Izakaya, sushi bars and ramen restaurants opening every year, and each of them are different and unique in their flavors, styles and presentations: authentic, traditional, modern, hip, experimental, edgy, avant-garde… It excites us to see what new cultural experiences are brought, innovated and offered in our neighborhood. Food is an universal language, with no prior experience or knowledge required. You can share and enjoy with others, friends and loved ones of all ages, of any ethnicity with different cultural background. And I believe that’s the beauty: it’s like a little world journey on your tongue – you can just knock on the door, and get a taste of the culture from the other side of the globe.

Omakase
665 Townsend St. (between 7th and 8th street)
San Francisco, CA
(415) 865-0633. omakasesf.com

November 22, 2015