We had the good fortune of connecting with Yuri Ansari and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yuri, how has your background shaped the person you are today?

I was born and raised in Tokyo and started learning Japanese calligraphy at the age of six. The reason I started was simply because everyone else was learning it. My first calligraphy teacher moved away soon after I started learning, so my mother needed find different teacher near us. I remember how much fun it was to go to the new class once a week because many of my friends from the same school were there!

Six months after entering junior high school, I had to move and could no longer attend that calligraphy class, but since my mother’s office was close to the class, my teacher faxed me an assignment every month and my parents delivered the written ones to her house until I graduated from college.

A turning point came for me when I was 24 years old. The designer at the office where I was working at the time was looking for someone who could write the logo for a yakiniku (BBQ) restaurant in Kyoto in Japanese calligraphy. and the designer let me do that project. That was my first job as a Japanese calligrapher. I really enjoyed Japanese calligraphy, not the Japanese calligraphy of writing assignments, but the calligraphy of designing with my brush for someone else, without an example. Moreover, I was moved by the fact that there is nothing more wonderful than to have a design you have written remain in the world. This started me thinking that it would be nice to be able to work as a Japanese calligrapher.

I began to work seriously as a Japanese calligraphy when I immigrated to the United States in 2009. First, I started Japanese Calligraphy class in 2011. At its peak, there were almost 20 students.

After taking a two-year break from classes once due to my second pregnancy in 2019, I resumed classes again. At that time, I felt something was different. I had no idea what made me feel that way.
After facing myself with what the discomfort was, I realized that writing for others, rather than teaching, brought me more joy.

And even though I resumed classes, I decided to close the class after much pondering. It was really hard to make that decision considering the feelings of the students who came to my class. But I couldn’t continue to teach with that feeling.

Since then, I have devoted myself entirely to custom orders such as logo for business, Kanji for tattoo, T-shirts, name for baby name poster etc.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

My calligraphy art is not just writing, but actually uses many sheets of paper, as many as 100 or 200 sheets, before it is completed. I also make sure to ask the client what kind of message they want to convey and what kind of image they want the design to portray.

For example, when writing a label for a bottle of Japanese Sake, a strong, bold line will give the impression of a dry, strong flavor. On the other hand, if the lines are thin and feminine, it will give the client the image of a smooth drinking experience.

Depending on the client’s request, I may write two or three different designs and submit them to the client. They will choose from among them.

People tend to think that a design is completed after a few practices runs, but that is not the case at all; I really take my time to write until it is completed.

I only submit work to the client that I am satisfied with. I am often asked how long it takes me to complete a project, but it really depends on the occasion. Sometimes it takes me a few days to finish, sometimes it takes three weeks or more.

I am very particular about never handing out work that I am not absolutely satisfied with.

I believe that it is my job to give shape to the client’s thoughts in the form of a design. Moreover, the designs I create using only a brush and ink are truly unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that no one else can imitate.

The art of brush and ink, which cannot be expressed digitally, is truly wonderful.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
That would be Tokyo, where I was born and raised. I have many memories of playing around in Shibuya, a well-known place in the world, from my youth.

When I was working in Tokyo, I often went out for drinks with friends after work at the station or at an izakaya (Japanese-style pub).

I don’t think such a culture exists in other countries.

Whenever I return to Japan, I always want to go to a yakitori restaurant.
In Tokyo, there are places where you can eat quickly and go home as there are standing Yakitori restaurants.

There are many really interesting places in Tokyo.
I would like to take you to places that are unique to Japan!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My Japanese calligraphy teacher in Japan My parents
Saori Lange who had given me an opportunities to teach Japanese calligraphy in Atlanta
Konnichiwa Club NPO in Atlanta (I am one of the Board members)
All my friends and families supported me

Website: https://yuricreations.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yuricreations/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yuricreations

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