Description Japanese calligraphy created by Yoichi Sumiyama Sugiyama in the second grade. The calligraphy is on a rectangular scroll.
Historical Notes A native of Shizuoka, Japan, Yoichi Sugiyama moved to Fort Lee, New Jersey, with his wife, Harumi, and their two young sons in fall 2000. A year later, the couple was expecting their third child. Yoichi was a baseball fan, especially of Shigeo Nagashima, the Tokyo Giants’ star player. On September 11, Yoichi was on the South Tower’s 80th floor at Fuji Bank, where he was a manager. He was 34 years old.
Curator's Comment As a child in Japan, Yoichi Sugiyama acquired a reputation as a skilled calligrapher. He won his first calligraphy award for this brush scroll, which he created in the second grade. The text shows support for the red athletic team in a school sports event, reflecting Yoichi’s early love of sports. He was a pitcher on his middle school’s baseball team and a member of his university’s ski club, where he met his wife, Harumi. After college, Yoichi joined Fuji Bank. He transferred to its New York branch in April 2000, and enjoyed playing baseball with his coworkers. HIDE