Biography - Saiu Minagawa
Saiu Minagawa, Shihan-Master of Calligraphy, was born in Tokyo and started to learn calligraphy at the age of nine. She has received awards at the Mainichi Shodo Exhibition, the largest calligraphy exhibition of its kind in Japan.
Since she moved to Berlin in 2013, she has been teaching calligraphy and conducting workshops for individuals and companies, as well as creating calligraphy pieces for individual and business clients. She regularly teaches at the Japanese-German Center Berlin and hosts weekend workshops. She also has experience teaching at educational institutions such as a Gymnasium (secondary school) and a University.
Currently, she is a member of the Mainichi Shodo Association and a member of the Sogen Shodokai Organization (both based in Tokyo) and studying under Sokyu Nagamori, a prominent Japanese Master of Calligraphy.
Education: Master of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Aesthetics and Art History (Tokyo University of the Arts), Bachelor of Literature (Keio University, Tokyo).
My calligraphy work used for the cover of FOUR Magazine, Spring 2015. (Photographer of the cover photo: René Riis)
My work used for the title calligraphy for a new photo book "Tanchodzuru" by photographer Uwe Langmann. (published in May 2024)
News
11th -26th June 2025: Solo exhibition at Denizen in Berlin
May 2024: My work is used for the title calligraphy for a new photo book "Tanchodzuru" by photographer Uwe Langmann
9th June - 9th September 2023: Duo Exhibition "MIND IN MOTION" at the Kunstauktionshaus Schloss Ahlden, Berlin-Repräsentanz
January-May 2023: Uniqlo UT Collection x Saiu Minagawa Collaboration Project (Uniqlo Store in Tauentzienstraße, Berlin)
Awards
2025
-Tokusen Award at the 61st Sogen Exhibition (The National Art Center, Tokyo)
2024
-Shuitsu Award at the 60th Sogen Exhibition (The National Art Center, Tokyo)
2019
-Shusaku Award at the 71st Mainichi Shodo Exhibition (The National Art Center, Tokyo)
-Shuitsu Award at the 55th Sogen Exhibition (The National Art Center, Tokyo)
2017
-Shusaku Award at the 69th Mainichi Shodo Exhibition (The National Art Center, Tokyo)
2014
-Mainichi Award at the 66th Mainichi Shodo Exhibition
-Shuitsu Award at the 50th Sogen Exhibition
2013
-Shusaku Award at the 65th Mainichi Shodo Exhibition
-Shuitsu Award at the 49th Sogen Exhibition
Shuitsu-Prize, Sogen Shodo Exhibition 2024 (90x120cm)
Tokusen-Prize, Sogen Shodo Exhibition 2025
"Mt. Fuji hangs (in the air)" from a poem by a Japanese poet Shiki Masaoka (60x180cm)
Mainichi-Prize, Mainichi Shodo Exhibition 2014
Transcribed from Schiller's verse "Deine Zauber binden wieder, was die Mode streng geteilt" (79x182cm, 2023)
