Affiliated with the national Young Audiences Arts for Learning network
Central Oregon
Portland Metro
Artist Biography
Shoka was born in Fukuoka, Japan.
Having grown up in Buddhist temple family, Japanese culture and arts have been present throughout her life. Naturally, she was drawn to Japanese art and started Shodo (calligraphy) practice in early elementary school. Her interest was cultivated while living with her grandmother who was practicing Japanese traditional art including Calligraphy and Haiku.
Then her interest further developed when Shoka moved to the US. Her appreciation of her own culture and art grew as she started living and raising her child in a foreign country.
Shoka has operated a Japanese immersion art program for youth and adults since 2010, and has been certified as a calligraphy instructor by Bunka Shodo Japan since 2016. She has been teaching Japanese style calligraphy since 2017 and is currently pursuing a teaching certificate from the Japan Etegami Association in Tokyo. Shoka is an active member of etegami tomonokai (Japanese-style postcard making friendship group). In 2024, she received a teaching certificate from Sogetsu Ikebana (Japanese-style flower art) and she is a member of Ikebana International.
In her free time she enjoys yoga, fermented food making, wellness and mindfulness activities.
Teaching Philosophy
In Shoka's view, all students are different and differences make the world beautiful. She highly values uniqueness and originality in their art and focuses on assisting students to express themselves through creating etegami art.
Her goal is for students to learn Japanese-style card making in many different art forms so that students have joyful experience in writing cards and building relationships with others. Etegam is not about creating perfect art, but about sending your heart and connecting with others.
It is Shoka's desire to create a safe and peaceful atmosphere for students to express themselves in art. She believes that the classroom is a critical place for students to practice skills and share their art with others. She will encourage students and teachers to be kind and respectful to each other in the classroom. Students should be able to let their curiosity direct their learning as she operates as a facilitator for their journey.
Testimonial
"I have taken many of Shoka's Etegami workshops over the past two years. Each topic was unique, challenging, satisfying and fun! Shoka is a talented, patient and gracious instructor who instills confidence in her students of all ages."
- Etagami student
