OSAKA, Japan – Zentis Osaka will kick-off the third installment of its Art-in-Residence series with a June 1 unveiling of works by Japanese calligraphy masters Baikei and Taiga Uehira as well as the debut of a stay package featuring an introduction to the revered art form.
Anchored by an exhibition of original works throughout the boutique hotel’s public spaces, the near-year-long collaboration will encompass 11 pieces illustrative of the father-and-son duo’s passionate commitment to preserve the over-1,000-year-old art form by introducing new, contemporary expressions of shodō.
In addition to being a shodō master and pioneer in live-calligraphy performances, the senior Uehira is president of the Osaka-based Seisho Calligraphy Association, which he founded in his hometown to promote the centuries-old practice of “zen in motion” through “the way of writing”. Taking inspiration from his father’s masterful brushwork and sharing in his desire to captivate the world with calligraphy, Taiga Uehira became a calligrapher, himself, and founded Calligraphia Japan with hopes of elevating the art by transforming it into a form of global entertainment.
“The deep contemplation and refreshing of the soul offered by Zentis Osaka resonates profoundly with the internal exploration and deepening of expression found in shodō,” said Baikei Uehira. “Themed on ‘Inheritance and Evolution’, this exhibition reflects our endeavor to visualize the breath of culture that connects the past, the present and the future”, added Taiga Uehira. “Through these pieces, it is our hope that guests will develop a sense of what it’s like when timeless heritage intersects with new encounters and evolves for a modern era.”
To complement the on-site gallery experience, the hotel is launching ‘The Essence of Shodō at Zentis Osaka’, a stay package that will allow guests to immerse themselves in the mindfulness-oriented artistic expression not only aesthetically, but also with a hands-on introduction.
The package includes:
- Two nights of accommodation in a Studio, Corner Studio or Suite
- A 60-minute, hands-on introduction to Japanese calligraphy
- A water calligraphy set that guests can take home (and use for practice)
- Bath salts featuring Parfum Satori’s signature ‘Satori’ fragrance, which evokes a meditative tranquility much like that which the art of shodō conjures
Hosted at the Seisho Calligraphy Association, the 60-minute introduction to shodō will be a private lesson taught by Baikei or Taiga Uehira (subject to availability). At its conclusion, guests will receive a traditional Japanese fan to take home, showcasing their choice of either their own calligraphy talents or featuring shodō by their instructor.
In lieu of the introductory workshop, guests already familiar with the basics can opt to participate in a ‘performance course’, which gives them the opportunity to try their hand at the kind of large-scale calligraphy that the Uehiras are known for. (An additional charge applies.)
“When we travel, enriching cultural experiences indelibly shape us. We hope that this encounter with over a millennium of Japanese culture – through shodō – will stir inspiration, reignite imaginations and give our guests new perspectives,” said General Manager Kiyotaka Saito.
The collaboration with Baikei and Taiga Uehira marks the latest installment in Zentis Osaka’s Art-in-Residence series. In 2024, Paris-based Japanese artist itu’ presented an immersive stay experience by transforming a Corner Studio into a one-of-a-kind canvas in addition to exhibiting his works throughout the hotel and infusing his free-spirited style into the staff’s uniforms. In 2025, Osaka-based artist Syo Tanii brought his botanical works to the hotel for a year-long, rotating exhibition which concluded this March.
The ‘The Essence of Shodō at Zentis Osaka’ stay package will be available to book starting May 1, for stays from June 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027 (subject to availability). Rates start at JPY 67,000 (based on double occupancy), excluding taxes and service charge.
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