About Us

Welcome to Gyokubai Studio and thank you so much for visiting our website.

My name is Naoko Mauger, I moved to Guernsey with my husband from my hometown Fukuoka in Japan 15 years ago. Now we have our beautiful three daughters, and we also have a lovely rabbit and two guineapigs. We are big family!
The first time when I came across Japanese calligraphy, I was 6 years old. I had just started going to primary school. My best friend was going to Japanese Calligraphy class after school and that how my lifelong love of Japanese calligraphy started. Since then I have taught Japanese language, culture and calligraphy in both the UK and Guernsey.

What kept me hooked on Japanese Calligraphy was the total concentration required to produce a single work. In the modern world where we can often erase our mistakes, calligraphy requires that we learn from them. In calligraphy we practice mindfulness and channel our emotions into the brush strokes, so that no two works are the same. Through practicing calligraphy we can move closer to ourselves and learn to be present in the moment.

My passion for teaching Japanese Calligraphy led me to achieve the rank of Shihan, or Master, and I was appointed as “Nihon Shuji Ambassador” this year (April 2024).

I’m absolutely looking forward to sharing my love of Japanese Calligraphy with people in Guernsey and beyond.

Japanese Calligraphy can benefit people of all ages and abilities, so if you are interested in learning something new, practicing mindfulness and improving your concentration please join one of our regular workshops or contact me for a private lesson.