On May 9, “Shisen-an,” a one-of-a-kind tea house featuring swirling characters in a blend of pastel colors, gold, and silver, was completed in Tamba-Yura, Kyoto.

Shiozawa painted William Blake’s poems in hiragana on eight sliding doors.

The Form of God/Compassion and mercy/

Peace and love—When all things suffer/ we pray/ And offer these joyful gifts/ Especially our hearts filled with gratitude.

Compassion, mercy, gentleness, and love

This is truly the one whom God loves / Compassion dwells in the human heart

Kindness is reflected in the human face / Love is the divine form of humanity

Peace is the garment that envelops us / Everyone in  every country

In times of suffering/The God we pray to is majestic—

Does He not take human form?/We must love the human form

Of love, compassion, and gentleness.

Pagans, Turks,

Both Jews and the Japanese people

are to be shown mercy and compassion,

for God dwells there.

Poem: William Blake

Calligraphy: Fumio Shiozawa

A calligraphic work of the alphabet by Paul Klee is displayed in the tokonoma.

The moment you step inside, gentle words float through the room like musical notes, inviting everyone into a space filled with love and compassion.

On the day Shiozawa’s fusuma painting was completed, his friends, Mr. and Mrs. Ichinose, came to visit and celebrate. We were deeply touched by their thoughtfulness in making the long trip to see us despite their busy schedules.

The night before, the Kito family, who own the tea house, invited us to a dinner party. Their children gave us a real boost of energy, and as We reflected on our stay during the production period, We could truly feel their kind thoughtfulness.

During our stay in Yura, every day was filled with the beauty of Yura’s beaches, the beautiful light of the Yura River, the majestic mountains, and the love of Yura’s nature.　We are deeply grateful that Shiozawa’s work is created with the support of this magnificent natural beauty and the warmth of the people.