Mitsuo Aida

Calligrapher, Poet (1924-1991)

Born in 1924 in Ashikaga, Tochigi prefecture,Japan. Upon graduation from Ashikaga Prefecture Middle School in 1942, joined the poetry group under the supervision of Mutsu Yamashita.

Soon he met Tetsurou Takei, a Zen priest who would become his lifelong mentor. First exhibition in Ashikaga was held in 1954, and then subsequent exhibitions of [My Words][My Writing] were held at various sites around Japan.

He was selected to exhibit at the Sixth Mainichi Calligraphy Concours and all subsequent Mainichi Calligraphy Concours. After the publication of his first book, his works have been popular among the young and adults.

He died at the age of 67 of brain hemorrhage in1991, but his works never die and move our hearts through the books and [Mitsuo Aida Exhibition ] 70th Anniversary shown in several places in Japan in1994. In 1996, Mitsuo Aida Museum was established in Ginza, Tokyo.

The museum celebrated the 3rd Anniversary in September 1999.



1924Born Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, as the third son of Kihei and Ei (Mitsuo had three brothers and two sisters).
1937Entered Ashikaga Prefecture Middle School.
1942After graduation, studied poetry under Mutsu Yamashita. At poetry party met Tetsuou Takei, a Zen priest of the Sodo sect at the Kofuku Temple, who became his lifelong mentor.
1954Held first exhibition in Ashikaga. The exhibited "My Words --- My Writing" at various sites in Japan. Selected for exhibition at the Sixth Mainichi Calligraphy Concours, Kanji Section, and all subsequent Mainichi Calligraphy Concours, Art Section and Modern Poetry Section.
1955Studied wax printing and produced noren and furoshiki with the technique. Began designing wrapping papers and bookmarks for long-established shops such as Koundo and Toraya in Ashikaga.
1973Started giving lectures in various cities in Japan.
1974Established a society "Enyu-kai" for his lay Buddhism activities and published its bulletin (up to 76 issues by 1991).
1984Ningen damono (Because I'm Human) published (Bunka Shuppan Kyoku), which eventually sold more than one million copies.
1987Okage san (Our Debt to Others) published (Diamond).
1990CD "Ima Koko (The Here and Now --- monologue of Mitsuo AIda"released.
1991Inochi Ippai (Live a Full Life) published (Diamond). December died at age 67 of brain hemorrhage.
1994"Mitsuo Aida Exhibition" held as 70th anniversary of his birth in eight cities in@Japna including Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, and Sapporo.
1995Kokoro No Uta (Songs of the Heart, Three Volumes) published (Diamond).
1996September, Mitsuo Aida Museum established in Ginza, Tokyo. THE HERE AND NOW, Japanese-English bilingual edition published (Diamond).
1998Ikiteite Yokatta (Life Has Been So Good) published (Diamond). "Mitsuo Aida Exhibition --- Pleasure to live" held in 18 parts of Japan including Sapporo, Sendai, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Okinawa.