In this 2013 work, Ishikawa expressed his opposition to Japan planned consumption tax increase to 10%, which was decided in that year. Since the September 11, 2001, Sunny, a series created in response to the September 11 attacks, the artist has consistently incorporated his views on current events into his calligraphic works.

The title Words Are Slippery is intended as a warning that words spoken in highly public settings, such as parliamentary debates, can rapidly lose their significance, and any commitments implied by them may erode at any time. Ishikawa attributes this to the neglect of the unique characteristics of the Japanese language, which employs three types of script: kanji, hiragana, and katakana. His approach typically involved selecting topics from current affairs and articulating his thoughts and responses through artistic creation.

Across the entire surface of Words are Slippery, shapes resembling expansive mountain ridges appear here and there, with slopes that gently extend outward from the peaks, like outstretched wings. These shapes help to structure the composition. They may also evoke statistical graphs depicting economic or demographic trends, which may be informed by the content of the work.

Ishikawa Kyuyoh (calligrapher; b. 1945)

Born in Fukui Prefecture, Japan in 1945. Graduated from the Faculty of Law at Kyoto University. After serving as a professor at Kyoto Seika University and the director of the Institute for Writing and Civilizations, he is now an emeritus professor at the same university. Ishikawa has elucidated the concept that "calligraphy is the art of brush touch (using the term 'taction')," and interprets the structure and history of calligraphy. As a critic, he is also active in discussions on the Japanese language and culture, which have had a significant impact across various fields. In both his artistic creations and written works, Ishikawa continues to produce cutting-edge expressions and insights. His body of work includes over 2,000 calligraphic pieces and more than 100 published books.