Anne Hutchinson Students Learn Japanese Calligraphy

Anne Hutchinson fifth graders put ink to paper in their art classes over the last week, practicing a new style of writing that is not only a beautiful, historic, expressive form, but also a way to find common cultural ground with their classmates. 

From Jan. 21 to Jan. 27, parent members of the Japanese Activity Committee (JAC) visited Anne Hutchinson art teacher Gina D’Orazio’s classroom to introduce Eastchester students to Japanese Calligraphy, a traditional art form that is part of the rich cultural heritage of their Japanese classmates. 

JAC member Eri Nomura, who chaired this year’s event, explained that the long-running partnership between the parent group and Anne Hutchinson formed roughly two decades ago out of a desire for Eastchester’s Japanese community to give back to the district and educate students about some unique aspects of Japanese culture.

“We have been organizing these Japanese Calligraphy classes for about 20 years, and through the event we hope to express our gratitude to the entire Anne Hutchinson community,” said Nomura. “Many Japanese children at the school have faced challenges communicating due to the language differences, but teachers, friends, and staff members have always been there to support them.”

The visit from the JAC coincides with a traditional Japanese New Year’s event called Kakizome, which translates to “first writing of the year.”

“During Kakizome, children write beautiful or meaningful words that reflect their hopes, goals, or resolutions for the year,” said Nomura. “This tradition symbolizes a fresh start and encourages mindfulness and focus.”

During the calligraphy lessons this week, JAC members and Japanese students found themselves at the front of D’Orazio’s classroom, discussing the three different types of written characters used in Japan, including Hiragana, which represents every sound in the Japanese alphabet, Katakana, which is often used to indicate foreign words translated into the Japanese language, and Kanji, which are logographic characters adopted from Chinese. 

D’Orazio said that over the last 20 years, these visits have become some of the most popular events of the year, and that by allowing Japanese students to take ownership of the in-class lesson, they are able to forge connections with their classmates who might be unfamiliar with certain aspects of Japanese culture.

“I think having their peers explain the meaning and history of the kanji characters gives the students a chance to share part of their culture that they would not normally have a chance to share, and it helps build mutual respect for other cultures while learning something new and fun,” said D’Orazio. “Our younger students look forward to experiencing the Calligraphy class when they reach 5th grade.” 

After learning about the history and application of the different forms of Japanese Calligraphy, students had a chance to put their knowledge into action, inking two Kanji words—Hoshi and Hana—which mean “Star” and “Flower,” respectively. 

These pieces will be featured at Anne Hutchinson’s end-of-year art show, which will be held in June. 

D’Orazio extended her gratitude to the JAC and said that she is excited to continue this long-running tradition that helps to unify the Eastchester community.

“The JAC has made a significant impact, especially through the arts. The group members are very dedicated and volunteer their time to many activities, including the Anne Hutch art show,” she said. “The art show wouldn't be the size and magnitude that it is without their help!”