I searched a number of different calligraphy offerings before I found this one, and was drawn to the professionalism and experience of the teacher. I had hoped for a private lesson and was pleasantly surprised that when I reached out with a booking request for one, the teacher had made a time slot just for me, even though it wasn't advertised as a private class (as I understand it, it isn't guaranteed, so I appreciate that she made the effort to make that happen). She was very flexible with the time and place options, even offering to come to my hotel if the hotel allowed it, and that gave me the opportunity to fit my schedule around nicely with this activity. Her manners and kindness were above my expectations, and I was grateful for her patience while I followed her instructions slowly as a first time learner, but was most of all impressed by her master of the art. It was clear she had spent decades committing to calligraphy and it was an honor to have her time first hand to witness that knowledge up close. When she let me use the large horse brush, that was the cherry on top, and I have a video of myself with it that I can now share with my friends. She let my mother sit and watch with us even though she wasn't signed up for the class, which was very thoughtful of her. I encouraged her to take her classes overseas to the UK and the USA, because they are a spectacle, especially when she gets out the horse brush and does it herself - it's a performance. This is a must do in Kyoto.












