3rd workshop of Okayama Writer-in-Residence in 2023

The 3rd workshop was held at the Okayama Performing Arts Center “Harenowa,” Okayama Castle and the banks of the Asahi River.

City of Literature Okayama invited a writer for the Writer-in-Residence program to stay in Okayama, conduct interviews and write his works. The writer Yusuke Norishiro, who won the 37th Joji Tsubota  Literary Award and the 40th Oda Sakunosuke Award for his latest work. He also got an Art Encouragement Prize for 2023 (the 74th) of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's in Japan, Yusuke Norishiro stayed in Okayama City for three times, holding workshops and providing writing guidance.

During the workshop, Mr. Norishiro picked up some of the landscape sketches from the previous participants' writings. The workshop was a great learning experience for the participants, as they were able to learn new ways of looking at and perceiving the sketches by learning about their interesting expressions and characteristic descriptions.

Mr. Norishiro asked the participants why they chose the expressions they did, and participants asked each other questions about how they chose the landscapes.

After the workshop in a theater, they went out to the Asahigawa river banks and Okayama Castle. Many of the participants seemed to have made more progress with their writings compared to the first workshop.

Each participant moved to a different location and began sketching the landscape. Some sketched Okayama Castle from different angles, some wrote Tsukimi-bashi Bridge and the crowds.  Others went into Korakuen Garden and sketched the plum garden and the lawn.

After the workshop, participants shared their impressions.

“I had a great time interacting with Mr. Norishiro and the other participants.”

“I could produce a ZINE with participants of workshop.”
“I just used to pass bay the scenery. However,  they gave me a lasting impression  after the sketch of landscape. The scenery  becomes a very important part of my life.”

Mr. Norishiro commented, “Everyone seemed nervous at the first workshop, but from the second workshop, a comfortable relationship was fostered. I hope you will make use of this experience in the future.

The Okayama Writer-in-Residence program is scheduled to be held again in 2024. Details will be posted on the website.