Takeda Souun

​ Who is Takeda Souun

​A Kanji Artist.
​"Souun Takeda has become ​

a national leader in using and interpreting kanji in Japan." 

-Amazon

​     Souun Takeda Souun Takeda is one of the most famous calligraphers (Kanji artist) in Japan. His artwork is highly praised for its innovative, yet traditional way of expressing the beauty of the Japanese language and spirit.



     Born in 1975 in Kumamoto, Souun Takeda was first exposed to calligraphy at the age of three by his mother Souyou Takeda, a professional calligrapher in her own right. 

After graduating from Science and Research University, Takeda Souun chose to work for Japan's largest telecom company, NTT.  However, after three years, he realized that there was a better path and a better life waiting for him, and he determined to become a professional calligrapher.



     Soon after, he left NTT to pursue calligraphy full-time and immediately opened his own studio in order to teach calligraphy to students of all ages and levels.  He also started an online business, designing nameplates, calling cards and Japanese fans. He also began his calligraphy career, working as a street artist creating calligraphy for passersby, in much the same way musicians perform on the streets and in the subway stations of New York and London.



     The quality of Takeda Souun's work and its power to move people has made him one of the most respected and sought after calligraphers in the world. He has been invited to participate in a variety of projects and engage in a wide range of activities.  Below is a list of just some of the things Takeda Souun has been a part of in recent years.





 

Example of his selected representative projects For full CV please download the PDF.→





Commition

-Coca-Cola campaign logo
-NISSAN campaign logo
-Kleenex logo "SHIKOU"
-The World Cultural Heritage site, Hiraizumi, Logo
-World’s fastest computer, The K computer Logo Design
-Japanese language text book for Junior High School
-Designed CITIZEN　watch limited edition model
-Created calligraphy artwork for Expo 2005 Aichi Japan at each main pavilion
-Sony Ericsson. Samantha Thavasa and Takeda Souun’s original Cellphone cover “成王” Logo Design
-Buddhist sutra for Buddhist magazine "Waraku"
-MSN environmental program "WA cology" Title Logo
-Japanese Drum Group "Tao" Title Logo
-Movie "Yamamoto Isoroku"
-"Tenchijiin"Titile Logo Design, NHK's period drama for 2009





 Selected  Performances / Live Art events

-TOYOTA commendation ceremony
-YAMAHA music festival, Japan
-World Cultural Heritage site,Hiraizumi
-Madonna, American entertainer
-11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics ceremony
-Art work displayed in NAMM Show, Anaheim, California, U.S.A
-10th anniversary of Kingdom of Belgium accession to the throne
-Live Performance as a Port opening event at the Yokohama Port Festival, Yokohama, Japan
-Exhibition, Live performance collaborated with Cole Hann Japan at Mutukoshi department, Japan
-Dedicated his artwork to the god of the Ise Grand Shrine
-Live Performance in collaboration with the musicians at Fuji Rock Festival,Japan
-TV show “Special Takeshi Kitano’s Japan Education White Book”





 Selected   TV/  Radio /  Website appearance

-Discovery Channel TV commercial
-Documentary features on Takeda Souun by BBC
-Promotional video of NPB, Professional baseball in Japan
-TV Talk show (Host Takeda Souun ) "Oishii Shun Banashi" by BS Fuji Television Network
-Yahoo special Coverage page





 Selected  Awords and  Honors

-Longhuacui Art Award from Shanghai Art Museum, China
-The Constanza Medici Award in Firenze, Italy
-Become tourism ambassadors to  World Cultural Heritage site,Hiraizumi
-Dedicated an artwork to the god of the Ise Grand Shrine.(November 20th)
-Design the Logo “魂（Soul）” for Short Short film festival of an Asian division, also he set on jury
-Become cultural ambassador of Kingdom of Belgium

 Selected Solo Exhibiton 

-“Life” in Narita Airport Art Gallery, Narita, Japan
-The anniversary of the opening of the Shinkansen, Bullet Train, to Hakata Terminal at Hankyu Department, Japan
-"My past and my future" at Hyakudan Kaidan, Meguro Gajoen, Tokyo, Japan
-Takashimaya Shinjuku department store, Tokyo, Japan
-“Tanoshika (What Fun!)” at Hotel Okura, Tokyo, Japan, attracted more than 9.000 people in five days

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

-Created public art "HOPE" for Meiji-Jingūmae Station

 Selected  Publications

He published 26 books in 8 years.​
-Kizuna “Bonds” (Art work and massage book) comes with English translations 「絆」（ダイヤモンド社）
-Ikiru noga rakuninaru Zengo50 (50 Zen words make life easier) 「生きるのが楽になる　禅語50」（三笠書房）
-Kanji Power (The magical “power” of Kanji) comes with English translations 「漢字パワー」（BNN新社）
-Message Book Tanoshika (What fun!) comes with English translations   「たのしか」（ダイヤモンド社)



 Selected Lectures 

-YAHOO Live talk with Sudo Genki on November 22nd
-World Cultural Heritage site,Hiraizumi as a tourism ambassador, Hiraizumi, Japan
-The K computer Event, Japan
-MARIST JUNIOR&SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, Kumamoto, Japan 
-Japanese Association of Medical Technologists Conference in Kyushu, Japan
-Keio university  Marunouchi City Campus, Tokyo, Japan
-Throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Kleenex Stadium Miyagi, Japan
-Nogi Shrine,  Japan

 His  Mission

Takeda Souun has a lifelong goal, “To sow seeds of joyful living and to create thankful cycle for whole human family.”

He always tries to create artwork, which inspires people to enjoy active lives and fills people with appreciation and happiness. He believes that if a person is filled with a sense of well-being and gratitude, she/he can return these feeling for others. The wave of well-being and gratitude will spread exponentially through society, and eventually build a peaceful and better world.

He creates his works and always seeks the best way to achieve this goal. While he respects traditional calligraphic ways, he does not hesitate to take new approaches creating calligraphic work.

  Takeda Souun’s attitude towards calligraphy

Takeda Souun believes that calligraphy is one of the powerful, spiritual art form and is a combination of skill and creator’s energy and spirits and is also defined one of the simplest art form. Calligrapher attempt to bring words to life and she/he work reflects her/his vision, mind, thoughts, energy and spirits. That is one of the reasons why he begins from meditation in the creative process to purify the mind and soul so that he can endure word’s power with character. He educes the words’ original power and freeze people’s thoughts, mind, image, and spirits into a black and white simple art form. He also transmits a glimpse of the universe in his heart, his energy through his brush and breathes new life into every single work. This is why people say his calligraphy art work has affirmative power, positive energy, and awareness within. The work talks to your heart and can enhance your emotional and spiritual health.

Takeda Souun