PROFILE
Taisan
Japanese Calligrapher & Ink painter
Taisan is a contemporary Japanese calligrapher and Ink painter known for his dynamic live performances and modern reinterpretation of traditional brushwork. Based in New York City, Taisan has captivated audiences around the world with his bold visual language and heartfelt expression through ink.
He began his artistic career in Tokyo in 2000, and his work quickly gained recognition through numerous exhibitions at galleries and museums across Japan. His groundbreaking calligraphy style—mojiface (also known in Japan as Emoji, or “smiling characters”)—transforms Japanese characters into expressive visual art. Since launching his mojiface classes in 2009, more than 3,000 students have participated annually, with some going on to become certified instructors and ambassadors of the style.
In 2011, following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in the Tohoku region, Taisan was invited by Japan’s Ministry of Defense to perform a live calligraphy piece in front of American and Japanese officials as a gesture of thanks to the U.S. military. The word he chose was “Gratitude”—a powerful expression of connection, humility, and shared humanity.
Taisan relocated to New York City in 2015, where he continues to create and perform internationally. His solo exhibitions and calligraphy performances have been featured in prominent cultural venues across Europe, including Frankfurt (Germany), Oviedo (Spain), and Stockholm (Sweden), among others.
At the heart of Taisan’s artistic mission is a deep desire to make Japanese calligraphy more accessible and joyful. By blending tradition with innovation, he invites people around the world to experience the beauty of writing—redefining calligraphy not as something intimidating or archaic, but as a vibrant, emotional, and deeply human form of expression.
MAJOR WORKS
2025
July 12&13
Solo exhibition at Ishigaki museum
Wakayama, Japan
May 22, 2025
Calligraphy performance & Sumi-e class at scale
Manhattan, New York
May 17, 2025
Calligraphy performance at Flying Solo
Manhattan, New York
May 14, 2025
Sumi-e class at First Eagle
Manhattan, New York
May 7, 2025
Sumi-e class at PayPal
Manhattan, New York
April 24, 2025
Sumi-e class at SMBC (Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation)
Manhattan, New York
April 10, 2025
Sumi-e class at Fordham University
Manhattan, New York
Apr. 4,5,6, 2025
Calligraphy performance at Awesome con
Washington, DC
Jan. 21, 2025
Display Designer for Shu Uemura's Cosmetics Event
Brooklyn, New York
Jun. 21, 2024 - Mar. 31, 2025
Taisan's popup store at BBFL
Brooklyn, New York
2019 - 2024
Oct. 18, 2024
Calligraphy performance at New York Comic Con
Manhattan, New York
Aug. 23,24,25, 2024
Calligraphy performance at AN!ME NYC
Manhattan, New York
Apr. 1, 2021 - Mar. 31, 2024
Taisan's popup store at J-collabo
Brooklyn, New York
Jan. 20, 2024
Calligraphy performance at JAANY
Manhattan, New York
Jan. 6 - Feb. 28, 2024
Solo exhibition at J-collabo
Brooklyn, New York
Nov. 17-19, 2023
Calligraphy performance at AN!ME NYC
Manhattan, New York
Oct. 27- Dec. 31, 2023
Solo exhibition at J-collabo
Brooklyn, New York
Mar. 26, 2023
Installation at RESOBOX
Manhattan, New York
Nov. 18,19,20, 2022
Calligraphy performance at AN!ME NYC
Manhattan, New York
Oct. 28-31, 2022
Calligraphy performance at Hamburg Messe und Congress
Messeplatz Hamburg, Germany
Jun. 16, 2020
Collaboration with Consulate General of Japan in NewYork
On Website
Jan. 20, 2020
Calligraphy performance at Brooklyn Japanese New Year Festival
Brooklyn, New York
Oct. 4,5,6, 2019
Calligraphy performance at New York Comic Con
Manhattan, New York
Jul. 7, 2019
Calligraphy performance and workshop at The Noguchi Museum
Long Island City, New York
Jun. 22, 2019
Calligraphy performance at Punk Island
Randall’s Island, New York
Jun. 10, 2019
Calligraphy performance at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Manhattan, New York
May 22, 2019
Calligraphy performance at Japan Society
Manhattan, New York
May 18,19, 2019
Japanese Ink painting (Live painting) at World's Fare in Citi Field
Queens, New York
May 4, 2019
Calligraphy performance at Cherry blossom festival
Randall’s Island, New York
Apr. 17, 2019
Calligraphy performance at Brooklyn Historical Society
Brooklyn, New York
Mar. 24, 2019
Solo exhibition at RESOBOX
Manhattan, New York
Jan. 22 - Jun. 27, 2019
Solo exhibition and workshop at The Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts at Pensacola State college
Pensacola, Florida
Jan. 21, 2019
Calligraphy performance at Brooklyn Japanese New Year Festival
Brooklyn, New York
Jan. 13, 2019
Calligraphy performance at Japan Society
Manhattan, New York
田中 太山
和歌山県生まれ、ニューヨーク在住。書と絵の組み合わせを得意とする書画家。
代表作に自身が考案した新しい書のスタイル、『文字を絵にする "mojiface 笑文字"』
や大小様々な筆を自在に操り書画を制作する大作書画パフォーマンスがある。
アメリカ、日本、ヨーロッパ、アジアにおいて個展やパフォーマンスを行っている。