What is One Stroke Dragon? / Kyoto One Stroke Dragon Painter Keisuke Teshima
[What is One Stroke Dragon?]
As the name suggests, the One Stroke Dragon is a lucky dragon that is said to bring strong blessings and good luck, and is drawn with a single brush stroke without any breaks, while wishing and praying for the body of the dragon. Painter Keisuke Teshima has continued to hone his skills and techniques, and he uses a single brush stroke to draw all types of monochrome and multicolored dragons, expressing color and shading, and drawing the patterns on the scales, etc. almost evenly. The way in which the dragons are drawn in one continuous stroke, and the 'power' that radiates from the dragons, has been revered as a dragon god that brings good fortune and blessings for about 400 years, from the Edo period (1603-1868) to the present day, have been revered and treasured as dragon gods that bestow blessings and protection, and people continue to pray and believe that they will “continue to develop and have good fortune”, “continue to have good fortune and grow, and connect people”, and “continue to be protected and safe”. In response to these wishes, the Ichibitsu Ryu-e-shi (one-stroke dragon painter) draws the “rising dragon” with all his might, praying for the fulfillment of great wishes, and the “guardian dragon” with all his might, praying for safety and protection. The “treasure pearl” held in the dragon's hand is said to be a treasure pearl that fulfills all wishes “just as you wish” and makes your desires come true, allowing you to create various treasures and obtain wealth. It is said to fulfill people's wishes, heal their suffering and illnesses, and bring them happiness, and is a symbol that makes your wishes come true. There is also a theory that it exists in the brain of the Dragon King.
[Kyoto One Stroke Dragon Painter Keisuke Teshima]
He draws One Stroke Dragons, incorporating various wishes and thoughts into his “dragon that is unbroken and continuous”. A famous painter who has received high praise in various fields, he has a technique for expressing the beautiful, delicate, and sometimes fierce dragon god in a single stroke, and has a track record of presenting gifts to celebrities through appearances in many media and events, both in Japan and overseas. He has studied the spirit of the Japanese way through karate, which he has practiced for 14 years since the age of 6, and has continued to explore Japanese culture and history, and in particular, has been fascinated by dragons since childhood and has continued to draw dragon pictures. He was deeply impressed by the history and origins of the technique, and felt that it was his destiny to learn it, so he taught himself the technique. While continuing to uphold the tradition of One Stroke Dragon, which has been passed down since the Edo period, he pursues the spirit of “Shuhari” in his dragon paintings. Although he is originally from Fukuoka Prefecture, he now has a gallery/art studio in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, a city with a 1,000-year history and home to the dragon god, and is one of only three One Stroke Dragon painters in Japan to own a gallery/art studio.
[Kyoto One Stroke Dragon Art Gallery / Drawing Studio]
Ourin-do, 5-11 Senyuji-sakuragamori-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City
https://www.onestrokedragon.com/
[Blessings / Benefits]
The One Stroke Dragon drawn by Keisuke Teshima is drawn with a single stroke, with the artist's wishes and prayers for 'uninterrupted development and financial fortune', 'uninterrupted good fortune and growth that connects people', and 'continued protection and safety' all contained within. Also, when drawing the One Stroke Dragon, the ritual implement “vajra” held in the left hand of the practitioner has the power to crush evil and drive away evil spirits, and it is said to play a role in overcoming one's own worldly desires. It is said that just having it nearby will ward off evil and disasters and make your prayers come true.
[Characteristics as a painting]
Using techniques and skills that have been refined through years of study, all types of single-colored and multi-colored dragons are drawn with a single stroke, with colors and shades expressed almost evenly, and the patterns of the scales drawn in. This technique of expressing the beautiful, delicate, and sometimes fierce dragon god with a single stroke is highly regarded not only in Japan but also overseas.
[Media appearances]
| Domestic | Tuesday, May-28-2024 | Kansai TV “Ready, Go! The Living National Treasure Next Door” |
| June 2022-Movie | The Way of the Househusband: The Cinema’ Title sequence production and appearance | |
| Saturday, December 18, 2021 | Kansai TV ”Foot Map” | |
| Aired on Saturday, July 31, 2021 | KBS Kyoto “Toppentotarude” | |
| Aired from April 2021 (12 episodes in total) | TV Tokyo Network ‘Drama Holic! / DIVE! !’ Drawing appearance in the drama | |
| Held on Monday, March 15, 2021 | Disney movie ‘Raya and the Dragon Kingdom’ official stage greeting event drawing demonstration | |
| Aired on Sunday, November 22, 2020 | TV Asahi's “Nani Kore Chin Hyakkei” | |
| Aired on Friday, November 13, 2020 | Yomiuri TV's ‘Osaka Honwaka TV” | |
| Aired on Friday, March 13, 2020 | Fuji TV's ’Mezamashi TV” “Kirabito” | |
| Aired on Sunday, March 3, 2019 | AbemaTV, 7.2 New Window #12, “The 1st All Japan Buzzing Awards” *Grand Prize Winner | |
| Overseas | Aired on Thursday, April 19, 2018 | NHK WORLD Channel, NEWS ROOM TOKYO |
| From July 2018 | videos published on National Geographic |
[Solo exhibitions, exhibitions, events, etc. (In addition, many events are held regularly)]
| 2014 | Debut as a painter, held first solo exhibition in Ginza |
| May 2014 | First performance dedicated to Hannya-ji Temple in Yamaguchi Prefecture |
| August 2014 | Performance at an event held by the Kitakyushu Kimono Culture Federation |
| September 2014 | First solo exhibition in Ginza. Also held solo exhibition in Fukuoka |
| October 2014 | Departure on a tour of four cities in the United States (Los Angeles, Washington, New York, Florida) |
| November 2014 | Performance at the Grand Sumo Tournament Final Celebration |
| January 2015 | Solo exhibition at the former Moji Mitsui Club |
| January 2015 | Solo exhibition at the Kumamoto Traditional Crafts Center |
| March 2015 | Solo exhibition at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine |
| April 2015 | Performance at the 1st anniversary event at Shoryuen in Arashiyama, Kyoto |
| June 2015 | Performance at the celebration of the completion of the Koyasan Shingon Buddhist temple Honin Goshinkan |
| August 2015 | Performance at the Satani Shrine in Fukuoka Prefecture |
| September 2015 | Group exhibition at the Dunedin Fine Art Center in Florida |
| May 2016 | Performance at Taihei-ji and Sennen-ji in Iki City, Nagasaki Prefecture |
| July 2016 | Performance at the Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles, and One Stroke Dragon performance at Zensou-ji in Little Tokyo. One Stroke Dragon performance at Higashi Honganji in Little Tokyo |
| August 2016 | One Stroke Dragon dedication and performance at Takao Shrine in Kyoto |
| October 2016 | Sales event and performance at Taipei Sogo in Taiwan, at a product exhibition sponsored by Kyoto Prefecture |
| November 2016 | Exhibition and performance at the Venetian Hotel in Macau |
| December 2016 | Solo exhibition and TV appearance in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia |
| January 2017 | One Stroke Dragon performance and demonstration at a Philippine government agency |
| January 2017 | Solo exhibition and One Stroke Dragon performance at the Leepa-Rattner Museum in Florida |
| February 2017 | One Stroke Dragon performance at a party hosted by Marina Bay Sands |
| March 2017 | A performance piece was auctioned off at a charity event held by the Philippine government agency “Duterte Kitchen” for 3.3 million yen. Through two charity events, a total of approximately 9.5 million yen was donated in full. |
| May 2017 | One-stroke dragon performance and dedication of work at Takachiho Shrine in Miyazaki Prefecture, the place where the grandson of the sun goddess descended to earth |
| February 2018 | Solo exhibition at a museum and gallery in Florida |
| August 2018 | Performance dedication at Itehiki Shrine (Fukuoka Prefecture) |
| October 2018 | One Stroke Dragon performance event in Taiwan (Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung) |
| May 2019 | Exhibition at “Ancient Calligraphy Art Takumi Exhibition Dance With Universe” (Heian Shrine, Nukuden) |
| August 2019 | One Stroke Dragon performance at Sennyuji Temple (Kyoto) |
| October 2019 | Special performance “One Stroke Dragon” at Sennyuji Temple (Kyoto) to commemorate the enthronement of the current Emperor |
| June 2021 | Solo exhibition at the newly opened Gallery CRANE in Ashiya City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| July 2021 | Donated works to Seifu Gakuen (Osaka Tennoji) |
| December 2021 | One Stroke Dragon adopted for the design of the 50th anniversary year of Tenka Ippin rice bowl |
| March 2024 | Solo exhibition 'DRAGON' at Gallery CRANE |
| July 2024 | Dedicated to Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto |