Feeling Japanese Calligraphy
with Your Body,
Minoru Goto

On April 29 at 14:00, the workshop “Feeling Japanese Calligraphy with Your Body”, led by Japanese artist Minoru Goto, took place in the West Foyer of the National Palace of Culture (NDK).
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The event was part of the Paper Art Biennale within Sofia Paper Art Fest 2026 and the “Salon of the Arts” at NDK, Sofia. More than 50 participants and visitors showed interest and took part in the workshop. It offered a unique opportunity for the audience to experience the essence of Japanese calligraphy through movement, gesture, and physical expression. Under the guidance of the artist, they explored the relationship between body, material, and line, experiencing calligraphy not only as a visual art form, but also as a deeply physical and spiritual practice.

During the event, Minoru Goto introduced the participants to the profound philosophy of Japanese calligraphy. Each of them wrote the word “Love” on the special “Sugihara” paper, which has been produced for centuries in his hometown Така (Taka-chō) and is traditionally used for calligraphy and the ink technique sumi-e.

Translation during the event was provided by Yoana Dokova, a Japanologist who specializedin Japan in “calligraphy and traditional Japanese culture.”
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About the artist:
Minoru Goto is a contemporary calligrapher and artist based in the traditional house “Minoru-an” in Taka, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. He began his journey in 1983 and over the years has combined various professional and artistic experiences – from working as a chef at the Miyako Hotel in Osaka to performing street actions in Shinjuku, Tokyo. In 2014, he opened his own studio.

His work combines the dynamism of traditional Japanese calligraphy with the possibilities of contemporary art. He works entirely through the physical gesture of the brush and the power of the material, without using collage techniques. In his works, he often incorporates sacred water from Japanese shrines such as Ise Jingu, exploring animism and the invisible spiritual bonds (èn) between humans, nature, and the present moment.

He is the recipient of international awards, including a bronze Stevie Award (2016), and serves as an ambassador of Taka, actively presenting the Japanese calligraphy tradition at international events.
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Sofia Paper Art Fest is realized with the financial support of the Programs: “Visual Arts” of the Ministry of Culture, “Creation and Distribution” of the National Culture Fund, and the Cultural Calendar of Sofia Municipality.