Written on February 26, 1989 [Permalink]

February 20

Visit to Saeki-san at Yuyudo in Nerima-ku (with Michiyo). A very interesting discussion, on the future of this business, Taisho-era carving, my prints, etc. etc. He showed us some incredible carving samples, absolutely the finest carving that I have ever seen. Although he was completely friendly, I get the impression that he doesn't really think I will ever 'cut it'. We got an intro to his package maker, Kogado, who I visited after leaving his place.

At last! Someone who knew what I wanted, and could do it, and could do it for a reasonable price!, and who could do it in small quantities! We discussed a simple blue cotton folder, and he quoted me ¥1,600 each (with string ties - ¥2,000 with the little white locks).

February 21

Saeki-san yesterday told us that he uses a large (4x5) negative for his reproduction making. The microfilm company says they can make this - for a mere ¥13,000 (one shot!). At this point, after all this screwing around, the original bromides start to look not so bad after all, and I send the Ono no Komachi sheet to the offset printer in Asakusa to have a strip film made. The eye is botched, and the nose and mouth lines are very faint, but I'm running out of affordable options.

February 23

A little article about this project appeared in the Fureai newspaper today. This is a kind of 'stuffer' that goes inside the local Yomiuri newspaper once a week. It is produced by the people who run the little 'Culture Center' in Fussa where I have been teaching a few English classes on Saturday afternoon, which is how they knew about this. In the little story, they have announced that I am starting a ten-year project, and misrepresented our plans for selling these prints on a subscription basis. It is not a particularly appealing description, and it looks highly doubtful that anyone will phone ...

February 24

The paper arrives from Yamaguchi-san. It looks great!

February 25

Letters off to Yamaguchi-san paying for the paper, and ordering 100 more, and to the package maker ordering the first 20 boxes. After coming home from Fussa english class, prepared 10 sheets of the new paper for some sample key block printing.

February 26

Printed the 10 sample sheets. The paper is fine, but printing even black eludes me. The block is perhaps uneven in a few places, but it seems that brushing out the sumi unevenly is the probable cause.

February 27

Trip to Tokyo. Visited Shimano-san to see what was happening on the blocks (ordered about two months ago!). He says that his partner has retired (too old) and he is not going to be able to deliver anything to me soon. In any case, I told him about my desire for more blocks, a new set about every six weeks, but he just shrugged his shoulders ...

I also dropped by Shunsho's gravestone in Seifukuji, just a few blocks from his shop. Then over to Miyagawa brush store, and paid ¥4,300 (gulp) for a larger brush, hopefully to make it a bit easier to brush out the sumi evenly.