Japanese 和歌 Waka Events: Materiality and Movement in Heian Period Poetry

In March we led two workshops introducing and exploring the esteemed calligraphic style, brush techniques and history behind the flowing kana 仮名 scripts and deep poetic themes of waka 和歌 (meaning Japanese poems). These events were held in the Glasgow area of Scotland, and were kindly sponsored by The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, allowing participants to experience the traditional methods and ideas that inform waka. The workshops took place in St. George’s Cross at the spacious and peaceful Woodside Library as well as at the historic Maryhill Burgh Halls (with North United Communities), for adults and also young people from the communities.

With the assistance of a wonderful team at both events, calligrapher Blair Thomson led the workshops. Firstly, he introduced waka poetry, and the kana calligraphy used to write it, which are little known or practiced in the United Kingdom, with material examples of waka brushed in kana by Japanese calligraphers.

Blair outlined the history of waka poetry, the structure and themes of the waka poems and anthologies, such as the Heian period imperially selected Kokin Wakashū compilation (905-914), referring to the Japanese language phonetics, and hiragana ひらがな and manyōgana 万葉仮名 systems, unravelling how calligraphers past and present have used kana dictionaries to aid their selection of kana used to brush waka.

He also talked about his experience of visiting teachers in Japan in December 2025 and January 2026, such as meeting Tokyo based Matsui Gyokusō Sensei, whose students often choose decorated papers and brush the 11th century Genji Monogatari 源氏物語 (The Tale of Genji) by Murasaki Shikibu (973-1014/1025).

At the Woodside Library event for adults the participants worked with the traditional materials used, such as the brushes crafted specifically for kana. After meditatively grinding their sumi ink, and following demonstrations and guidance, they began with stroke practice and next brushing simple seasonal phrases. Then, after another demonstration by Blair, the group began copying a Heian period waka poem by Fujiwara no Kiyosuke (1104-1177), from the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu 小倉百人一首 (one hundred poems by one hundred poets) collection, from an example brushed in elegant flowing lines by Matsumoto Hōsui (Shokaisha school founder, 1893-1971).

The feedback from participants was very positive with the adults enjoying the sensory feel of the materials and different papers, and what they described as a therapeutic way of brushing. Whilst the adult group worked quietly, immersed in the activity, on the other hand the group for young people at Maryhill Burgh Halls was full of energy, embracing the cultural and Japanese writing activity with the easier to handle brush pens, working on a selection of craft papers and calligraphy papers. Most young people quickly brushed bold renditions of the seasonal phrases and waka poems, with many of the students demanding more paper and surprising Blair by asking for some ‘harder’ poems to copy!

Thanks so much to everyone who took part as well as those who supported the events and helped out. Deepest thanks to The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation for making the events possible and supporting the project, which we hope helps widen an awareness and understanding of Japanese waka poetry and kana calligraphy.