NAKATA Ranseki

NAKATA Ranseki (1954-) Calligrapher. Born in Koyasan, Wakayama Prefecture. Director of the Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, director of Toyo Shoga Geijutsu Kenkyuin, chairperson of Daishido. Teacher at Seifu Gakuen. Chairperson of Koyasan Shodokai and Koyasan Hono Shakyokai. He has a doctorate in literature, a doctorate in education, and a doctorate in art. A Great Hall of the People world art committee evaluated his work as national treasure art, and he received awards such as a medal for outstanding social influence and a medal for works of the times from a Great Hall of the People round table association. He has honorary titles such as “the People’s notable artist,” “outstanding artist of the Republic,” “world master calligrapher,” “world master,” and “the parent of calligraphy.” He has exhibited works as an art advisor, special calligrapher, and distinguished calligrapher at international contests and other contests throughout Japan and in other countries, and received many awards such as a Prime Minister’s award and a Minister of Foreign Affairs award in Japan, and a premium award, a first place award and a gold prize in China. Those works have been included in collections at places such as the National Art Museum of China, the National Museum of China, and the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution, and many have been included in the Chinese government’s collections of gift calligraphy. In China, he holds simultaneous positions such as vice president of a world artist association, honorary chairperson of a China artist association, and honorary president of an (international) China calligrapher association, as well as art advisor, professor, visiting professor, honorary chairperson, vice president, honorary president, and honorary director at places such as Yanan national painting school, Banqiao calligraphy school, Dongpo calligraphy school, Ziang calligraphy school, Wu Daozi art museum, and Lushan Bailudong calligraphy school. In Japan, he holds simultaneous positions such as vice chairperson of Zennihon Kyoiku Shodo Renmei and councilor of Nihon Kyoiku Shodo Renmei.