One year after I moved to Japan I started taking shodo lessons (Japanese calligraphy) with Michelle. I lasted for a few months until I decided I was finished with this cultural experience. I wasn’t good at it. Several of my friends have taken sumie painting lessons from the same teacher and they are good. This week a friend brought me this painting of persimmons done by the sensei (teacher). He is very talented and I think there is just a touch of whimsy in his work. He probably wouldn’t like to hear that since he is very serious about his art.