This article based on an original story written by Yoshinori Ishii



Strength. Happiness. Joy of Living. Enjoyment. These are just a few of the words visitors have used to describe their feelings upon seeing the Japanese calligraphy of disabled people at an exhibition held in Tokyo.



“Dream V” is a calligraphy club that is also registered as a social welfare organization. Recently, at Tokyo's “Play Gallery,” the club held its 6th exhibition, comprised of 40 works by 20 club members.



This exhibition’s 20 calligraphers range in age from 21 to 49 years of age, including one young man with Down's syndrome who, in recent years has, been attracting attention.



Last year, Hiroshi Koyama, 25, exhibited the character for Sky and this year drew Tiger and Comfort.



Two works by Akiko Monzen, who died late last year at the age of 39, were also on display. One is “Water” and the other is “Life.” These calligraphy works signified the preciousness of life to visitors of the exhibition.



One 80 year old visitor said she has come every year to the exhibits in order to get energized, even though she lives two hours from Tokyo. There are many people who look forward to the annual display of disabled people’s calligraphy.

Calligraphy teacher Takashi Arima says she receives energy from her students

This calligraphy club for the disabled was started in 2004 by Ms Takashi Arima, 66, a special needs teacher for 37 years. Her purpose was to provide emotional and mental refreshment to the participants. In the beginning there were only 3 students in the group, but by word of mouth the club’s members have gradually increased.

The first exhibition at “Play Gallery” in 2005 featured the work of nine club members, and each year the number of people exhibiting their art has increased. Members of Arima’s group have also exhibited their work at the Tokyo Metropolitan Disabled Combined Exhibition, receiving recognition and prizes for their calligraphy.

Akiko Monzen’s “Life” and “Water”

The “Dream V” calligraphy group gets together once a month on the second floor of a local restaurant near Jujo Station. Ms Arima says that club members are able to complete one or two calligraphy assignments during class time.

Occasionally, it takes five attempts to finish an assigned kanji, but in spite of some “difficult births” as she refers to writing attempts, Arima says that everyone works well together.

She noticed that during the past 6 years the members and the mothers who accompany them have become much more cheerful, and she herself says that she has been energized by working with her disabled students.

Arima intends to continue the annual exhibitions and her dream is to have a grand 10th anniversary exhibit.

Hiroshi Koyama’s “Tiger”

“Dream V” is just one example of many nationwide social welfare efforts supported by The Nippon Foundation.

The young people who assist in the calligraphy club meetings are moved by the smiles and increased self-confidence of the disabled both during and after the class. This in turn increases the motivation of volunteers to get involved in other welfare projects.