Written on October 7, 1989 [Permalink]

October 4

A telephone interruption during one of the afternoon English classes today - a Michael Grant from Akigawa who had read about us in the Daily Yomiuri today. Again, I'm the last to know ... It was a strange conversation, with him seeming to be mostly interested in telling me about wood-block printing, or what he thought wood-block printing was about. We made no appointment, but he said that he'd call leter and arrange to come round ...

After the last class (over at 11:00), another call - from a Mr. Kheeseng Anansiriprapha from Thailand, currently working for a Japanese financial company in Tokyo. He asked straight out if he could become a subscriber, and during the interesting conversation that ensued we made an arrangement to meet this coming Sunday (at the Ukiyo-e demonstration at the Arakawa Culture Day exhibitions, which is not too far from his place). He has an idea to recreate some Thai wall murals by means of wood-block printing, and wants to start learning what he can (he apparently has no experience at all yet). It seemed to me that it might be more productive for him to try and enlist the aid of some professionals here in Japan - they don't seem to have enough work to do these days, because of the high yen cutting into print sales for souvenirs. Perhaps with his business connections he could arrange sponsorship of some kind, and get the work done that way. It should be quite interesting seeing what may become of this. We'll see Sunday.

October 5

Still more phone calls ... two from the 'Foto' article (still!), and one from the Yomiuri article. A Mr. Kaneko called from Kyushu during the ladies class, and Michiyo signed him up. I sent a sample pak later in the afternoon. While I was preparing that package, a Mr. Ishikawa called from Tochigi, and asked for 'everything you have'. I'm to wrap and ship the completed six prints tomorrow morning. Michiyo tried to tell him that we were sending them as 'samples', and he could return them if he found them unacceptable, but he wasn't having any of that - 'just send them - with a bill'...

During one of the afternoon classes, yet another call, from what sounded like a foreigner, from Kobe (gulp, another Mr. S?) He turned out to be Japanese, educated in Michigan. It's the first time I've ever been fooled by a Japanese speaking English. He tried to tell me that wood-block carvers usually sold their blocks and not prints, and why was I doing it in such a strange way ... We discussed 'that' for a little while, and I said that I'd send him our pamphlet for further information. I'm not sure if he'll call back. I'm not sure if I want him to call back. All in all, an interesting day.

The package of 50 new backboards arrived from Muse today, and just in time - the six prints I'll wrap tomorrow for Ishikawa will use up the final 6 pieces of the last batch of 50.

October 7

Made up 50 folders. Before I started, I went to the home center, picked up some plywood, and made up a jig for gluing and assembling the folders. Pasting the last batch up by hand took about five minutes each. With this new little jig, it takes about a minute. The 50 were glued and trimmed in a couple of hours - and they are neater than the previous ones.

A phone call from a local lady who we know slightly, asking if I would consider taking her friend as a print-making student. At least, I think that's what she asked, but perhaps she just wants to make a visit and see how things are done. They'll get back to me later, with a time, and we'll see then. It occurs to me that if I keep at this game for some time, I'll eventually become the guru, receiving the visits, not making them!