Japan cultural envoys

Japan cultural envoys

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken in Tokyo on May 22, 2013, shows six of eight arts professionals whom Japan has selected as cultural ambassadors to help promote Japanese arts and culture overseas. They are (from L to R) calligrapher Souun Takeda, art unit Maywa Denki member Nobumichi Tosa, plaster artist Shuhei Hasado, Japanese-style gardener Masashi Hirao, dancer and choreographer Kaiji Moriyama, and "taiko" player Leonard Eto. The other two, actor Mirai Moriyama and Tama Art University professor Yuko Hasegawa, are not in the photo.

FEATURE: Japanese calligrapher spreads healing power of the brush

FEATURE: Japanese calligrapher spreads healing power of the brush

Japanese calligrapher Souun Takeda poses for a photo at his atelier, where he teaches 300 students, in Fujisawa, near Tokyo, on Feb. 8, 2016. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

Calligrapher and Tokyo Olympic torch relay runner Souun Takeda poses on the grounds of Chuson-ji temple in the Iwate Prefecture town of Hiraizumi, northeastern Japan, on June 18, 2021.

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

Calligrapher Souun Takeda runs during the Tokyo Olympic torch relay on the grounds of Chuson-ji temple in the Iwate Prefecture town of Hiraizumi, northeastern Japan, on June 18, 2021.

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

Calligrapher Souun Takeda runs during the Tokyo Olympic torch relay on the grounds of Chuson-ji temple in the Iwate Prefecture town of Hiraizumi, northeastern Japan, on June 18, 2021.

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

Calligrapher Souun Takeda runs during the Tokyo Olympic torch relay in the Iwate Prefecture town of Hiraizumi, northeastern Japan, on June 18, 2021.

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

Calligrapher Souun Takeda runs during the Tokyo Olympic torch relay in the Iwate Prefecture town of Hiraizumi, northeastern Japan, on June 18, 2021.