My first calligraphy exhibition piece

Many years ago, when I first started learning calligraphy, my teacher asked me to write something so that she can help me submit it for an exhibition. This was the piece that got submitted.

 

眼にあてて海が透くなり桜貝 

(めにあてて うみがすくなり さくらがい)

This is a poem by 松本たかし (Matsumoto Takashi).

 

I even drew the crabs based on what I learned during art class in school.

 

I actually don't remember where this piece was submitted, because it was many many years ago. I think it was for a local exhibition in Yokosuka, but I could be wrong. 

43rd Sankei International "Sho" Exhibition (第43回産経国際書展) at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

I submitted two works for the 43rd Sankei International "Sho" Exhibition (第43回産経国際書展) and received notification that one of them was selected for the exhibition. Today, I made my way to see my work on exhibition. 

There is only one venue in Tokyo for the Sankei International "Sho" Exhibition and it is at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, spanning 12 exhibition halls (4 on each floor, on B1, level 1, and level 2; basically, these are all the exhibition halls at the museum except for those used by the museum for its own exhibits). Out of the 12 exhibition halls, 10 were used for the exhibition, while the remaining 2 halls were used for the "junior" section, displaying works by school students. Out of the 10 halls, works submitted by the public (from all 47 prefectures in Japan, as well as those who submitted from overseas) took up about 4 halls; the remaining 6 halls displayed works by members of the Sankei Shokai Calligraphy Association.
 
Here are some of the pieces on exhibition. 

Here are some of the winning works by students.

 

There were also submissions from other countries, including Italy, the U.S., Malaysia, and even Singapore. The submissions from Singapore were mainly seal carvings.

 
I timed my visit to day because there was also a calligraphy demonstration, where the two calligraphers who received the top awards were asked to demonstrate how they go about creating their works.

This is my work on display in section 81 of the exhibition, similar to last year.

 
Last year, my work was selected for the first time for the 42nd Sankei International "Sho" Exhibition. This makes it the second consecutive year that my work has been selected for this exhibition, and the third consecutive year that my work has been selected for a national-level calligraphy exhibition. I hope to continue my submission cycle as outlined here.

Create tools and services to solve a problem, don't put the cart before the horse

I recently watched a video about the low rate of generative AI use in Japan, compared to the U.S. and China.

 

Japan wants AI. Many people aren’t convinced.

 

My own thoughts about the low rate of generative AI use is that, generative AI is a tool, a service. In the past, we invented tools and services to solve problems that we faced, to help us address specific issues. We didn't invent knives, then thought about what to cut with them. We needed to cut things, and so we invented knives.

 

This still holds true today. The reason why people use tools and services is because they solve specific issues that those people faced. If companies provide generative AI tools and services that addresses such needs, people will use them. Therefore, a government goal of "increase generative AI use to 80%" is pointless if you are just trying to ask people to use generative AI more. Such a goal should be about providing assistance to companies to develop tools and services that people need. When they can address a need, when they can supply something to meet a demand, there will be a market, there will be users.

 

Developing a service and hoping people will adopt it is not a transformative idea; it is taking a gamble. And for the many AI companies out there who took that gamble, I think it is only right that we leave them with the risks, instead of trying to provide public funds as assistance. After all, these companies are the ones winning big if their gambles pay off. Providing a safety net to risk-taking is not conducive to transformative ideas; rather, it breeds complacency because companies know they bear less risk, and therefore can be less meticulous.

 

Hopefully, the AI companies can come up AI services that meet actual needs, rather than just hoping that consumers will find a use for something that they invented.