Baikei Uehira (上平梅径), born Tatsuyoshi Uehira (June 28, 1964) in Izumisano, Japan, is a master calligrapher and teacher as well as president of the Seisho Calligraphy Association in Osaka. Originally pursuing calligraphy only for the love of writing, he has gone on to develop new pathways and styles of traditional Japanese calligraphy through collaborations, art shodo, and live performances. Uehira is considered a pioneer of live calligraphy and continues to create innovative works with hopes of expanding interest in Japanese writing to others.
Biography
Early years At age 6, Uehira began calligraphy classes at school as do most Japanese students. Unlike most children however, he loved calligraphy from day one and continued attending classes through high school. After high school Uehira performed live as a vocalist for the rock band 零夢 (0 Dream). Though music was one of his passions, he decided that he could not support himself with music alone and determined that it was time to begin serious calligraphy study at university.
Shortly thereafter, he took his calligraphy college entrance exam but was rejected both the first and second years that he applied. After more than one year of doing menial jobs Uehira at last was able to enter professional Japanese calligraphy school in Tokyo.
While studying Chinese and Japanese calligraphy, Japanese literature, kanji interpretation, etc., Uehira practiced fervently, bundling pages in an old cloth to carry them to and from school. Inspired by Kūkai (空海) he dreamed of creating innovative works to inspire future generations. Though the young Uehira put great effort into his studies, many teachers felt his work was poor. Desperately he approached teacher and mentor Kyoshuu Mochizuki with his work. Master calligrapher Mochizuki carefully reviewed each sheet of Uehira's writing, offering words of advice. The budding artist was moved to tears and was motivated to amplify his efforts.
Due to a somewhat mysterious event at age 22, a scarred Uehira returned to Osaka. Devastated and unmotivated, he began working at a calligraphy supply shop just to stay busy. A calligraphy teacher who was a frequent customer invited Uehira to train with him, which turned out to be a huge blessing. Uehira did so for eight years at the most well-known calligraphy group in Kansai.
Establishment of the Seisho Calligraphy Association At age 29, making the most of his training, Uehira established and became president of his own calligraphy association, 青霄 (Seisho), "cloudless blue sky". He has gone on to found schools in Osaka (Namba, Shinsaibashi, and Umeda) and continues to teach, perform, and lecture.
Uehira currently lives with his wife Seikei (also a calligrapher) and three children in the Kansai area. Currently more than 2,000 students study under them.
Career and activity in calligraphy Awards 2007 - Mainichi Calligraphy Exhibition top prize 2010 - Mainichi Calligraphy Exhibition promoted to ranking member 2014 - Dokuritsu Calligraphy Exhibition top prize 2018 - Dokuritsu Calligraphy Exhibition promoted to judge 2020 - Mainichi Calligraphy Exhibition promoted to judge 2020 - Became Representative Director at Japanese Culture & Art Association 2024 - Achieved official judge ranking for the prestigious Mainichi Shimbun Calligraphy Exhibition 2025 - Became a judge for the Wakayama Prefecture Art Exhibition 和歌山県美術展覧会（県展） 2025 - Reached status of judge for Izumisano City Exhibition
Calligraphy art 1997 - Umeda Sky Building Kuuchuuteien (aerial garden) exhibition; a collaboration project of calligraphy and flower arrangement Shokasanran with teachers from CB International Flower Arrangement College 1998 - Calligraphy for TV commercial Kiku Masamune, titled「一」one 2000 - Calligraphy on a large scale Japanese fan for an event at Osaka Kourakuen Hotel 2000 - Guest appearance for Shoukyokusai Kotenshou's live event at Yoshimoto Enterprise Waha Kamigata 2000 - Live calligraphy for ‘Kobe requiem’ (lyric writer: Maho Okamoto) on the Kobe Liner passenger ship; the piece was created to be housed at the Hokudanchou Earthquake Memorial Hall on Awaji Island 2001 - Appearance on Sutekina Furusato Yume Tanbou TV Osaka 2002 - Hana No Iro Wa Utsurini Kerina live stage calligraphy event at Umeda Daimaru Osaka 2002 - Yume (dream) live event at Umeda Daimaru Osaka 2005 - Exhibition of classic calligraphy works for Osaka City Art Museum 2006 - Calligraphy used in the opening of ABC's TV show of new comedians titled Owarai Shinjin Grand Prix 2007 - Appearance for Annta Kakkoeena Sukina Dake Yari and Bou TV commercial 2007 - 「響」 (hibiki) writing for the opening title of ‘Artist Special’ on SKY PerfecTV! 2008 - New Year card workshop sponsored by Japan PostJapan Post Office Press Release 2009 - Live writing on shikishi (small drawing boards used for poetry) at Shinsaibashi Dekimonoshou Exhibition in Daimaru 2009 - Calligraphy at Mikage Yuzuruha Shrine's Hanabira Festival 2010 - Performance at the 1000 guest opening of the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo 2010 - Performance and exhibition of works at Kyoto Kokusai Kouryuu Kaikann 2011 - Live writing at Okura Garden Hotel Shanghai 2011 - Performance at Granvia Hotel in Kyoto 2012 - Guest appearance on Ameagari Show Club 2012 - Performance at Swissôtel for Nikkei public listing celebrations 2012 - Calligraphy for Geidankyo Kansai Council 2012 - Ehime Cultural Festival performance in Osaka 2012 - Appeared on "Yoidon" show, Kansai TV 2013 - Guest appearance on Hotnet 2013 - USA tour to Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Los Angeles (included 2 live performances for the Japan Foundation) 2013 - Guest appearance on Yomiuri TV "Sumatan ZIP" 2014 - Performance and workshop at Plaza Club in Honolulu, Hawaii 2014 - Wrote a 100-foot scroll at First Friday art event in Honolulu, Hawaii 2014 - Two live shows at Waikiki Marriott Hotel in Honolulu, HawaiiWaikiki Marriott 2014 - Performance and workshop at Honolulu Museum of Art School in Honolulu, Hawaii 2014 - Live writing for Nikko Securities ceremony in Tokyo 2014 - Workshop at Galleria Arte Giappone in Milano, ItalyConsulate General of Japan in Milan 2014 - Performance/workshop at Castrocaro Medieval Fortress 2014 - Performance/workshop at Japan Expo in Paris 2015 - Presented artwork to world heritage Kudoyama City (Ichiganji Temple)Kudoyama City Newsletter 2015 - Chamber of Commerce event hosted by Mihana Keiya 2015 - Calligraphy performances for Ai Matsuri in Java and Sumatra 2015 - Paper door writing ceremony at Fukichin Temple, Mount Koya 2015 - Performance for sister city governments of Izumisano and Shanghai 2015 - Dokuritsu Exhibition in Tokyo, Japan 2015 - Mainichi Newspaper Exhibition national showingMainichi Newspaper Exhibition Prize List 2015 - Big brush workshop at the Asia and Pacific Trade Center 2016 - Performance and workshop for Gyokuzan Kikumoto in Taipei, Taiwan 2016 - Presented works to Tengard Holdings in Hong Kong 2016 - Donated works to Jizouji Temple in Wakayama, Japan 2016 - Performed at G7 Summit in Tsukuba, Japan 2016 - National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan performance 2017 - TV appearance on Tatakae! Sports Naikaku 2017 - Embassy of Japan performance in Prague, CZ 2017 - Venezia Oriental Museum performance & workshop 2018 - Galaxy Macau performance & workshop 2018 - Taiwan performances at Chaotian Temple, Guandu Temple, and Lintianshan Forestry Culture Park 2019 - Japanese Culture Festival performance in Hanoi, Vietnam 2019 - Hotel Okura performance & workshop in Amsterdam, NL 2019 - Centro Studi d’Arte Estremo-Orientale Bologna lecture & workshop 2019 - Sabadell Design College lecture & workshop 2019 - APU Malaysia University workshops 2019 - Reiwa writing at Sumiyoshi Shrine 2020 - Performance & workshop at Hrvatski kulturni dom na Sušaku in Rijeka, Croatia 2021 - Ruidosha Calligraphy exhibition at :ja:ピアス (企業) 2023 - Lobby performance at Okura Hotels in Bangkok Thailand 2024 - Exhibition and performance at Hanshin Department Store 2025 - Visiting professorship with workshops and performances at Kansas City Art Institute 2025 - Workshop at HEART OF AMERICA JAPAN-AMERICA SOCIETY 2025 - Performances at Hotel Okura in Shanghai and Bangkok
Calligraphy collaboration 1999 - Live calligraphy with flamenco guitarist Jirou Yoshikawa at WTC Cosmo Tower 2001 - Appearance at Jazz Show writing: Yume Haruka, Ai Eien, and Kotobuki at Takarazuka Hotel 2002 - Collaboration with iwabue (traditional stone flute) at Mikage Yuzuruha Shrine in Kobe 2002 - Collaboration with shamisen, percussion, and dance at Yoshimoto Enterprise Waha Kamigata 2003 - Joint live event with shakuhachi and sitar at Mikage Yuzuruha Shrine in Kobe 2003 - Live writing of Fuusetsuenbu with music, and imagery 2004 - Calligraphy performance for a Seizan Ichikawa shamisen lecture at Suita Mei Theater 2005 - Guest appearance for a tandem event with acclaimed shamisen artist Kubosan at Taikoen in Kyobashi, Osaka 2006 - Large calligraphy at Seizan Ichikawa's Kokera Otoshi Concert at Nishinomiya Geijutsu Bunka Hall 2006 - Performance for a New Year celebration at Westin Hotel Awaji 2006 - Collaboration with clarinetist Hariyamasan at Kobe HotelCity of Kobe 2006 - Big brush writing for the program titled Voice, (with Hiroshi Kubo playing tsugaru shamisen) an MBS News special program 2007 - Performing live for NHK TV show Motto Motto Kansai 2007 - Teaching with newscaster Yoko Suka of YTV News's New Scramble 2008 - Performing live for NHK TV show News Terrace 2008 - Performing live for Kansai TV show News Anchor 2008 - Appearance on ABC TV show Ohayou 2008 - Writing in TV commercial for Hankyu Sanbangai 2009 - Writing New Year cards for a Kansai TV 「美」 (beauty) program 2009 - Performance collaborating with wadaiko (Japanese drums) at Watashi No Shigotokan in Kyoto 2009 - Teaching calligraphy to Yuuichi Wazumi of MBS's Eenaa 2010 - Collaborating on big brush calligraphy with Naomi Matsushima for TV show Kirakira Afro 2010 - Hanshinsan writing for a TV commercial at 「 廣斉堂」 studio 2010 - Calligraphy for TV commercial titled Tiger Tsuchi De Taku 2011 - Performance with dancer Mihana Keiya and shamisen artist Seizan Ichikawa 2012 - Art fundraiser for Fukushima victims in Mino, Japan 2012 - Live with calligrapher Raikei at Suita Mei Theater Main Hall 2013 - Donated works to Kobe Ginga Club Magazine 2013 - Live show for Chiayi City Cultural Festival in Taiwan 2013 - Live collaboration at world heritage Kasuga Taisha Shrine with bushido master Umeda Masami in Nara, Japan 2013 - Shamisen creative dance collaboration in Bangkok, Thailand 2013 - Calligraphy collaboration with Lady Gaga on Yomiuri TV's "Sukkiri" show 2014 - Body art collaboration and exhibition with Chanel Tanaka in Honolulu, Hawaii 2014 - Collaboration with tattoo artist Richie Lucero at CoXist Studio Honolulu, Hawaii 2014 - Live collaboration and exhibition with Persian/Arab calligrapher Arash Shirinbab in Oakland, USA 2015 - Participated in the 5th International Exhibition of Calligraphy in Moscow 2015 - Gallery showing with ceramics master Banjoya Takeshi 2015 - Collaboration with fiddler Hidenori Omori 2015 - Collaboration with swordsman Umeda Masami at Himuro Shrine 2015 - Collaboration with shamisen artist Kubo Hiroshi 2016 - Performed with Umeda Masami, Kubo Hiroshi, Seizan Ichikawa, and Okamoto Maho at Kobe's Kitano Garden 2017 - Culture collaboration at Mainichi Broadcasting System 2018 - Stage show ‘Washoi’ at National Bunraku Theater in Osaka, Japan 2019 - Takakamo Jinja (高鴨神社) event with The Blue Hearts drummer Kajiwara Tetsuya and Okano Hiroki 2020 - Niutsuhime-jinja (丹生都比売神社) restoration project with painter Tamura Shigeru 2022 - Collaboration with violinist Ezéchiel N’tsaï 2024 - Stage performance with musician and producer Yanagiman in Osaka, Japan