Art Classes in Hiroshima

Feb 28, 2024

Art Classes in Hiroshima

Have the beautiful Hiroshima landscapes inspired you to want to take up art, or perhaps you want to try your hand at some traditional Japanese crafts? You can find an assortment of opportunities throughout the prefecture. These range from individual taster sessions to short courses, so you won’t have to commit to a lengthy program that takes years to complete to pick up a few handy skills.

Here are some of the art and craft classes you can find in Hiroshima.

Fine Art Classes

If you’re looking to get to grips with some of the basics of fine art, such as painting, drawing and sculpting, the Hiroshima YMCA runs classes from its city center facility. Students don’t need any prior experience and can receive tutoring up to hobbyist level, using mediums such as oil and pastel, as well as learning more about the different disciplines as they go.

The school also offers a prep course for those that want to go on and study art at college or university level. This course incorporates a wider range of disciplines including architectural design and graphic design.

Website: https://www.hymca.jp/english/m/service/art/

Japanese Calligraphy

Japanese calligraphy, also known as shodo, goes back to the Heian period when a form of writing was developed from the ancient Chinese techniques used at the time. It is both a method of communication and an art form, one popular with expats who view it as one of the most recognisable Japanese cultural traditions. Furthermore, it is also linked to Zen Buddhism and often practised alongside meditation.

Unsurprisingly, there are opportunities for beginners to learn techniques that can be practised with pencils, ballpoints and brushes. LinkBrush has been running sessions in central Hiroshima since 2018. Participants can learn penmanship techniques including hiragana, katakana and kanji. Monthly classes are 2,000 yen or you can book individual 90-minute sessions for 5,000 yen. If you want to push the boat out, you can combine shodo classes with kimono-wearing or kendo martial arts training at a Buddhist temple. Prices are typically between 10,000 – 15,000 yen per session.

Kintsugi

This is a traditional Japanese craft of repairing broken pottery using special gold or silver powder. The powder is used to decorate the mends, thus turning the damaged part into art rather than concealing it. You can attend kintsugi workshops at Kougei Tsubaki in Higashi, East Hiroshima. There are one-off 90 minute beginner sessions as well as short 3-month courses where you can refine your skills. Prices range from 3,600 yen for single sessions to 24,000 yen for a full course (including material costs).

Website: https://www.kougei-tsubaki.com/

Japanese Art Taster Sessions for Expats

Not quite sure what art form you’d like to experience? The Hiroshima International Plaza runs various training programs where expats and visitors can learn Japanese cultural practises including the likes of paper doll making, flower arranging and origami. You can also create your own tailored program if there is a small group of you and an available instructor.

Website: https://hiroshima-hip.or.jp/en/exptraning.html

Ayu Nabila, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons