Satoru Kobayashi's creative expression creates new "encounters" and connects society. "Listening Museum #13"

"HERALBONY TONE FROM MUSEUM ~Listening Museum~" is a podcast that focuses on artists contracted to the welfare experimental company Heralbony.

Sara Ogawa, an actor, filmmaker, and writer, and Takaya Matsuda, CEO of HERALBONY, will be the interviewers. As they listen carefully to the art, they will touch upon the personality and life story of this "unique artist" that can be seen beyond his work.

This time we will introduce Satoru Kobayashi, a unique artist who writes all letters in a connected way. Satoru's strong commitment evolved into a unique form of artistic expression, and his parents provided him with devoted support. Satoru has supported HERALBONY since its early days, and we look back on his past and future. We look back on the story of how he creates new encounters through artistic expression.

# An unusual writer filing tax returns

Takaya: Our guest today is one of HERALBONY's popular artists, Mr. Kobayashi Satoru. If people who know HERALBONY well heard this, they might be like, "A legend has arrived!", but today he has come to our studio in Roppongi with his parents!

Ogawa: Wow! You came all the way from Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture. Satoru-san, your mother Makiko-san, and your father Shunsuke-san! Nice to meet you.

Makiko and Shunsuke: Thank you very much.

Takaya: Satoru-san, thank you for joining us today. Would you like to take to the microphone?

Satoru: Thank you for having me today.

Takaya: Thank you.

Ogawa: Mr. Kobayashi, you are affiliated with the Runbinii Museum of Art, right?

Takaya: That's right. It's in Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture, and I was about 25 years old when I started my own company. My mother told me, "There's a great place called Runbinii-en in Hanamaki," so I went to check it out. And there I saw Kobayashi's work. Oh, right now Satoru is writing letters in the air. He's an artist with a strong obsession with connecting letters together.

Ogawa: I have a piece of work in front of me right now, and the letters connect to form shapes that look like pictures, and it's really fascinating to look at.

Satoru Kobayashi "Summer Demon"

Takaya: That's true. So, I'd like to ask your parents about the process of creating this work.

Makiko: I liked Anpanman since I was in kindergarten, and I was good at drawing him. My drawings and writing were pretty ordinary. I started to develop my current style when I was in high school.

Takaya: Is that so? How did it change from then on?

Shunsuke: The teacher in charge of instruction at the high school level liked calligraphy, and although Satoru had only been writing numbers and the alphabet up until that point, he wondered if Satoru should try writing kanji. That was the trigger, the beginning.

Takaya: I heard from Mr. Itagaki of Lumbini-en that initially there was some movement among teachers to stop students from joining characters together. Was that the case?

Shunsuke: At first, I didn't write it all together. When I first started writing kanji, I brought some paper from school and wrote the character for "Kobayashi" (for "forest") with two trees lined up vertically. I thought, "Wow, this isn't good!" (laughs). I thought I had to do something about it, and then the characters started to change. But that was just the beginning, the prologue.

Takaya: That was the beginning.

Ogawa: So it started with your own name.

Takaya: Satoru-san, do you remember the name of your teacher in high school? Mr. Tachibana .

Satoru: I remember, Professor Tachibana .

Takaya: It was Professor Tachibana who gave you a turning point in your life .

Ogawa: What kind of changes did the letters go through before they were connected to form the art we know today?

Shunsuke: At the high school presentation, we did a play called "Living." The first time I ever connected letters, I wrote the characters "生" (life), "き" (ki), and "る" (ru) horizontally so that they looked like they were holding hands. The theme of the piece was "Let's all hold hands and live," and the letters for the theme "Living" were connected. Oh, I also wrote a little about this in the artbook.

Ogawa: That's right, today Satoru-san brought his art book too. It has a wonderful title, "Land of Smiles." Did you make this?

Shunsuke: It all started with an editor named Takuro Sato , who was my teacher when I was in junior high school. He was really into my work. For about 10 years, I held solo exhibitions in various places, including Morioka and Hanamaki, and he told me that he wanted to publish a collection of his work as a culmination of his work.

Shunsuke: But I wondered who would appreciate or buy an amateur's paintings, so I just ignored them.

Ogawa: Yes!

Shunsuke: But they said, "If we spend money on it, we can make it however we want, so please let us make it somehow," and I finally gave in. So I thought, "Well, I guess I'll just give them to people who have helped me out up until now," and that's how I got started on making them.

Takaya: Now Satoru is an artist who publishes art books and even files tax returns.

Ogawa: Very popular.

Takaya: I was hoping to get an autograph from you today if possible. Satoru-san, can I have your autograph?

Satoru: (in a low voice) That's fine.

Takaya: Then let's go to this "Land of Smiles". Is that okay?

Satoru: Takaya's name?

Takaya: Let's start with Sara.

Ogawa: Then I'll call you Sara.

Shunsuke: I think it would be better if they wrote it in kanji. Hiragana alone is too simple.

Takaya: I'm very grateful. To have Kobayashi-sensei write for me. Thank you very much. I bet if I were to say I was going to hold an autograph session at a department store in Tokyo, there would be a really long line.

Ogawa: Right now I'm having my name, Sara, written.

Takaya: You look like you're going to do it.

(The sound of a pen scratching. Writing Sara's name.)

Ogawa: Amazing! My kanji looks like this!

(Kobayashi's signature is written next to it)

Satoru-san: Sunday... Just a moment.

Ogawa: Ah, this is good.

Takaya: Oh.

(Kaku-san is writing his signature.)

Ogawa: I'm mesmerized.

Takaya: That's nice.

(Kaku-san, finished)

Ogawa: That's so cool! I'm so happy. Thank you, Satoru-san!

Kaku-san: (writing in the air) Thank you very much!

Takaya: Then can I tell you my daughter's name?

(Kaku-san signs the artbook again)

Ogawa: Ah, now we're on to the "pine" part.

Takaya: Apparently your parents can tell exactly what's being written.

Shunsuke: I wrote it in order, so when I look at it, I can understand it. But when I look at it after I've written it, I can't understand it anymore.

Makiko: That's why, during autograph sessions, we're there explaining things to him.

Ogawa: That must make the fans happy!

Takaya: The lyrics on the shirt I'm wearing now are from a song called "Natsu no Mamono" by Spitz.

Ogawa: Oh! That's right!

Takaya: The lyrics are hidden in the song: "You looked down at me and smiled a little, White sheets fluttering in the lukewarm breeze, Crossing a sewer river with no fish in it." It's a little hard to understand from my perspective (laughs).

Ogawa: That's amazing.

Takaya: Satoru-san loves music very much. He listens to Billy Joel, Queen, Yosui Inoue, etc. at full volume. Apparently, he has his radio cassette player tightly secured together with duct tape so he can't turn up the volume any more (laughs). So he won't damage his ears.

Ogawa: Maybe someday we'll collaborate with other artists.

Takaya: I think so! I'd like to see it done on things like CD jackets.

Satoru-san: (signing) Sunday.

Ogawa: I'm sure the artists are happy to see the world of the song take this form. (Looking at Satoru's hands) Ah, there are a lot of "Sunday"s in it. Is it finished?

Ogawa: Wonderful!

Shunsuke: Maybe you don't even feel like you're writing characters.

Satoru: Should we make it pink? Should we make it pink?

Takaya: Thank you. Do you write in pink pen? Satoru-san is a craftsman, so I think he has a sense of work. I've worked with him on many events, and he always fulfills what is expected of him. The other day, the moment the event ended, he ran off to the bathroom and disappeared. That sight left a strong impression on me!

Shunsuke: That's it (laughs)!

Satoru-san: (Whispering something to Maki-san)

Makiko: Later!

Satoru: Juice? Canned coffee? Juice? Canned coffee?

Takaya: Ah, canned coffee! Then one of our staff members will go and buy some canned coffee for you! Satoru-san likes a slightly sweeter canned coffee, right? I'd like to ask your mother and father as well, but I met Satoru-san about six and a half years ago. This was before HERALBONY was founded. Satoru-san's work was wonderful even before then, but I wonder if his life changed after that encounter. What do you think? In Iwate, I imagine people sometimes talk to you in the streets, right?

Shunsuke: That's right.

Ogawa: Wow!

Takaya: Satoru-san has been featured a lot on Iwate TV.

Makiko-san: The other day, when I was shopping, someone said to me, "I saw you on TV." I was so happy to hear them say, "Good luck."

Takaya: Oh, the coffee just arrived. Ah!

(Kaku drinks the can of coffee with great speed.)

Ogawa: About 3 seconds!

Takaya: Do you need one more, teacher?

Makiko: No, no, there's no end to it (laughs).

Takaya: I see (laughs). But you can still talk to them, right?

Makiko: People talk to me in all sorts of places. When I was little, I only sat down to draw and eat. I was a very difficult child to raise. I can't believe I've become like this now. I'm the happiest I've ever been.

Ogawa: I imagine there were a lot of difficult things going on...

(Kaku-san burps)

Takaya: A good burp. That's very important (laughs).

Ogawa: He was drinking like crazy!

# Events on April 20th

Ogawa: Are there any memorable events that occurred during your time together with your mother?

Makiko: When she was little, my husband was busy with work, so we spent a lot of time alone together. One night, I woke up and found Satoru not beside me. I frantically searched around the house, and Satoru came in from outside wearing his pajamas. It was the middle of winter, so his whole body was ice cold. That was the only time Satoru ran out in the middle of the night, but when he was little, he would often disappear, and I was always looking for him.

Ogawa: I see. How old were you when you snuck out in the middle of the night?

Makiko: I was in the fourth or fifth grade of elementary school. It's calmed down a lot now.

Ogawa: I see. Have you been drawing since you were little?

Makiko: I was drawing Anpanman.

Ogawa: So you started out by drawing characters.

Makiko: My child went to a regular elementary school nearby, but they didn't do their homework, so I made them draw a picture diary every day and turn it in. I wrote explanations on the back.

Ogawa: So you wrote it in combination with your mother.

Makiko: Yes. I made my child write every day from the first grade of elementary school until the third grade of high school.

Takaya: I'd like to see it. And the picture diary from back then.

Makiko: One day, while I was looking at his picture diary, I noticed that Satoru was drawing things that he enjoyed and that he was interested in. From then on, I took him to various places, and if there was something that made Satoru happy or his eyes light up, I had him draw something outside of his picture diary.

Ogawa: I see. Your illustrated diary is also featured in the artbook.

Takaya: Looking at it this way, I can see the prototype of my current style in my paintings from back then, like this " Sunflowers and Watering Can ."

Ogawa: The same can be said for the way sunflowers grow.

Makiko: When my teacher saw this, he said he thought I might have talent.

(Satoru-san explains the picture to Takaya-san)

Takaya: Apparently water is flowing from a watering can.

Ogawa: That's true! That's wonderful. With so many options available, was there a reason why you decided to go to a local elementary school?

Makiko: Because I couldn't drive, I couldn't send my child to a special needs school. I begged them to let me go to a local elementary school, but I had to transfer schools in the second grade, so I got my driver's license and sent my child to a special needs school.

Ogawa: I see. What was the situation that forced you to transfer schools?

Makiko: The parents of my classmates said, "I don't want my child to study with Satoru." At the PTA parent meeting, they said, "I don't want my child to study with Satoru because he does this kind of thing." I wish the homeroom teacher had protected me at that time, but she said, "Yes, please, next mother." There were only eight classmates in my small class, but everyone said whatever they wanted to me. I still can't forget the sweat that started pouring out of the back of my hands at that moment. It was April 20th.

Ogawa: How can I put it... I think it was because the class size was so small that we couldn't find a way to spend time together.

Makiko: In the first grade, my homeroom teacher was able to keep me in check, but when I entered the second grade, that was no longer possible. From that day on, I was no longer able to attend school, and six months later, I transferred to a school with special needs classes.

(Kaku-san is mumbling something and writing in the air)

Ogawa: But even if I were to transfer schools, I'd need to get my driver's license before I could go. That would take a lot of time and money.

Makiko: It's one of the worst roads in Kamaishi city.

Shunsuke: It's a narrow road...

Makiko: When I run towards them, all the cars on the other side stop.

Takaya: It's too thin.

Makiko: Yes. He said, "You can come, ma'am. It would be terrible if you failed."

Ogawa: Your mother must have had a really hard time too.

Makiko: But when I was in the fourth grade, my special needs teacher praised my picture diary. He said, "This is fun. It's great, so I want you to keep doing it." I think those words helped me continue until I was in the third year of high school. From then on, Satoru always had a pencil in his hand, and he wrote until his hands were completely black. That's why his hands are still well developed, and he doesn't get tired no matter how much he writes.

Ogawa: You're already in good shape.

Takaya: Even now, you are still writing in the air.

Ogawa: Are the words written in the air your own?

Shunsuke: This is normal hiragana.

Ogawa: Oh, is that so?

Shunsuke: I thought he was just writing randomly, but one day I looked over at him and saw that he was writing the words he was speaking in the air using sign language.

Ogawa: Wow. It's a completely different thing from writing on paper. Do you have any memorable memories of Satoru-san?

Shunsuke: I think I'm starting to recognize these places and autograph sessions as work. In the past, I had ADHD and couldn't sit still. Now I can keep writing for two or three hours at an autograph session. The other day, my teacher told me, "Kaku-kun, you've grown up."

Ogawa: I think it's hard to keep signing for 2 hours. You're a professional. Satoru, how do you feel about having so many people look at your drawings?

Kaku-san: What do you think?

Takaya: Hahaha. Satoru-san, do you like drawing?

Kaku-san: Kaku-kun likes drawing and coffee!

Takaya: You also like coffee. That's great! I want Satoru-san's life to be rich, so I have to be careful not to get too busy as part of HERALBONY (laughs). You're so popular, so I feel like I'm asking you to do too much work.

Ogawa: Do you draw all the time in your daily life?

Shunsuke: I don't usually draw.

Makiko: Until I was in my third year of high school, I used to draw on the backs of advertisements every day, but I've calmed down recently.

Ogawa: Wow. Is there anything you like to do instead, or something you do regularly?

Makiko: I like music.

Takaya: Music! You like it, don't you? Oh, by the way, you also teach music at school, right?

Satoru: I'm teaching at school!

Takaya: Satoru visits various schools in Iwate Prefecture and gives classes in which he shows the students drawings that relate to Satoru's life.

Ogawa: So there's a chance to actually see it.

Takaya: At first, they see him as a "person with a disability," but by the end of the class, their respect for him changes to "Kaku is an amazing person!" In that sense, disability welfare and respect were the furthest things from each other, but I think Kaku is making respect closer to them.

Ogawa: So it's called "Encounter Classes." I think it would be inspiring for junior high school students who love drawing.

Shunsuke: The "Encounter Class" was started with the aim of nurturing compassion for others by getting to know people with disabilities. So Satoru doesn't teach anything in class, he just lets the students watch him do this. Satoru also writes the names of those who come and gives them to them. It's a class where students can get to know Satoru as a person.

Ogawa: This is a really good lesson. By the way, Satoru-san, while writing words in the air, you often ask Takaya-san to "scratch your back," and Takaya-san keeps scratching your back (laughs).

Takaya: Whenever we meet, it's my role to scratch Satoru's back (laughs). He calls me "Tonton" and says, "Takaya, scratch my back!" My twin brother, Fumito, is also asked to do the same. I'm grateful to be able to scratch the master's back.

Ogawa: Do you like having your back scratched?

Makiko: No, I don't ask anyone, not even him. I choose people who seem kind.

Takaya: It's an honor.

Shunsuke: I think that helps calm my emotions.

Ogawa: Wow! Is that the case at home too?

Shunsuke: Not at all! At home, no one ever puts their back on us.

Ogawa: I see, because you're relaxed at home. When you go out, you have someone draw it for you.

Shunsuke: Yes.

Takaya: It's always been that way.

# Creativity paves the way to the future

Satoru Kobayashi "Numbers"

Ogawa: I heard that Satoru and Takaya have been friends for a long time. Has anything changed since Satoru's illustrations became HERALBONY products?

Shunsuke: The world has really expanded.

Ogawa: How is that?

Shunsuke: I think it's amazing that the expansion of Matsuda and his friends' activities is directly leading to the expansion of the world of Kaku.

Ogawa: Today, Takaya is wearing clothes with Satoru's work printed on them.

Takaya: That's right. A large-scale exhibition and pop-up shop called Isai no Hyakkaten will be held from July 26, 2023, where Satoru's T-shirts, dresses, and skirts will all be on sale at once. Satoru, thank you very much!

*The pop-up "Unique Department Store" has now ended.

Kaku-san: Is this yours?

Takaya: Yes. Satoru-kun's shirts and dresses will be on sale! Thank you!

Kaku-san: Please take care of Kaku-kun!

Ogawa: Thank you! This time there are shirts and dresses for women, and they are so lovely! I'm looking forward to it.

Takaya: Really.

Makiko: I'm honored that Satoru's work has been used.

Takaya: No no no, in fact we are almost dependent on you. Our employees also eat what you give us. But please do it within your limits! I would be happy if we could continue to ask you to do so in the future.

Ogawa: Today, not only did we get to talk about your daily life and your art, but we also got you to sign a wonderful artbook. Thank you so much.

Takaya: Thank you. That's right, what I wanted to ask you today is, from your perspective as parents, what would you like to see Satoru become in the future? Is there anything that you think would be great if your work were developed into something?

Makiko: We haven't thought about what we will do when we're all old. However, I do hope that we can create an environment where children like Satoru can become independent. As for activities, we recently held a workshop in Kamaishi, and I hope that we can do something similar.

Takaya: What about your father?

Shunsuke: As my wife said earlier, I hope that we can create a society where people can be independent even after we are gone. It's not about whether people can learn or not, but I hope that we can create a society where people with disabilities can live with peace of mind.

Ogawa: Yes, that's right. I feel like Satoru's art is paving the way for that little by little.

Takaya: I think Satoru's achievements will not only improve his own life, but also give hope to people with disabilities and their families. I think Satoru's creations will open up many new possibilities, such as extending beyond art to include disabled people working in restaurants in prime locations in Morioka.

Satoru: I think that's how it is.

Takaya: That's great. Let's do our best!

Ogawa: I look forward to seeing more of your work and the future that it will pave. Thank you so much for today!

Text by Tomoyo Akasaka

Satoru Kobayashi

Currently affiliated with Lumbini Museum of Art (Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture).

His favorite musicians are Billy Joel, Queen, Yosui Inoue, Spitz, and THE BOOM. He also loves going for walks. While attending a junior high school special needs school, Kobayashi began to write all of his letters in his diary and essays in a unique arrangement. At first, his teachers struggled to find a way to fix his writing, but he soon came to see it as an attractive form of expression. This was the turning point, and his writing began to take flight as art that brings joy to many people.

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