Written on November 17, 1989 [Permalink]

November 12

Finished off the hundred folders with about another hour's work in the morning. It took about 6 hours in all, to make 100. I wish I had to do it every month!

While I was away yesterday, a phone call came from our customer Mr. Ishikawa in Tochigi who asked Michiyo if I would send out a couple more prints. He is to be a go-between at a wedding soon, and wanted them as gifts. He also asked for a frame like the one I mentioned in the 'thank you for joining' blurb. I wrapped up copies of Tenji Tenno [1-1] and Ono no Komachi [1-2] (supply going down!) along with one of my 'bunkasai' frames, and shipped them off by parcel service from the local convenience store.

November 13

This happens all the time, but I still get a kick out of it. In the afternoon Mr. Ishikawa called back to thank me for sending the prints and frame. I sent them at about 7 last night - he lives some few hundred kilometers away, over bumper-to-bumper roads - and he gets it at 2 this afternoon! Personal helicopter service couldn't be a hell of a lot faster! He was happy with the frame, and wants two more. Gulp! I undercharged him for the first one, just as a favour to one of our customers. I didn't realize he'd make a business out of it.

He also invited us to come over and see them. Apparently the maples are fantastic near his place, and he suggested a trip to Nikko. This sort of thing has been in the back of my mind since starting this project. If we can build a group of acquaintances scattered all over the country, the future travel possibilites become very interesting. Unfortunately, having printmaking, English teaching, and re-writing all lined up constantly demanding attention ... Maybe next year. (Do I say that too much?)

A few more hours on the kimono pattern for Taikenmonin Horikawa [1-8]. Enjoying a new sharpening stone. My medium stone has become just too worn to function any more, after repeated sessions grinding it flat on the concrete in front of the apartment, so it was off to Doit for another. It seems that I should have done it months ago - sharpening is much easier. The blade is cut down much faster, and yet the stone doesn't wear down so quickly. It will save a considerable amount of time on carving days.

November 14

I'm typing this in at 12:30 (nothing unusual) with a somewhat blurry vision tonight. Spent the whole day crouched over Taikenmonin Horikawa's kimono pattern (just what kind of flowers are they, anyway?), and then followed it with 7.5 hours straight, of Michiyo's re-writing. That kind of typing wouldn't be so bad, except that these manuals are so repetitive it drives me crazy. She gets them from a medical instrument maker, and each time thay produce an instrument with a tiny difference from its predecessors, it needs a new manual, most of which is repeated from the old ones. It's easy work, but insanely boring.

There may be however, some light at the end of the tunnel. A call came in today from ... (drum roll, please!) ... somebody at NHK. They asked for Michiyo (didn't even try and talk to me), and asked her if would be interested in an interview. They asked a few questions about what we are doing, and then rang off with the comment that they may call back later, but weren't sure at the moment. I guess they've got me as a 'possible' on their list ...

It's only seven weeks until classes are due to start up in January (is this all sounding familiar?), and as we're still stuck at about 20 customers, with no replies coming in from the latest round of flyers, the prospect of yet another term of English is looming ever closer. Anybody got any ideas?

November 17

Called Gosho-san in Saitama-ken to see what is happening with the baren I ordered about 6 weeks ago. He said that he was just finishing it, and that we could pick it up anytime from tomorrow. If there's a nice day early next week, Michiyo and I will drop over on our bikes.

Started preparing a design for this year's New Year card. I'm going to use (what else!?) a Hyaku-nin Isshu theme, and shot some photos of cards 'flying' in the air, to use in making up the hanshita.

More carving, and almost finished the flower design on the kimono.