Written on January 31, 1990 [Permalink]

January 28

Finished off the case label, and prepared a hanshita for a set of little numbers, one to ten (in kanji). The blue cloth cases for the new series starting soon will need something to differentiate them from last year's set. I plan to print these numbers on little circles of washi, and glue them at the base of the spine of each folder.

January 29

Uggh! Folder making day. Did ninety of them, finishing just before day-care time (that averages to four minutes each - from unpacking the materials, to finished folder). In the evening, did nothing - just read a book I borrowed from Takayoshi! This is actually worthy of mention. It's the first time in living memory that I have spent the time goofing off instead of either teaching, translating, or working on the print project. This could get to be habit forming!

January 30

It is habit forming! I spent the whole morning and afternoon in Tachikawa, browsing through music stores, looking at keyboards (Himi-chan has really been pounding away at her toy piano, and seems to have a real desire to learn, so I think we'll take it up together). Actually, until either Shimano-san comes through with some blocks, or Yamaguchi sends some paper, there's not a lot I can do anyway.

January 31

This morning was the day for Jean Pearce's column to appear. Mentions of the project in English newspapers hasn't ever done much before, so I wasn't expecting much of anything today. I was wrong. Before 10 o'clock, we had three new subscribers! At least, they asked on the phone if they could sign up. I sent them each a sample pak of a couple of prints for their perusal and decision. They all sounded quite interested, and I think that they will go for it, either last year's, or the coming year's set.

[ scan the Japan Times clipping ... ]

In the evening, a call came in from a Richard Sams, who said that he had been a print dealer some years ago, and who was familiar with the Shunsho book. He questioned my assertion in the column that the book was rare, saying that it was actually quite commonly seen by dealers. I think that what he is thinking about is the later editions with the 'other' calligraphy, but as my only knowledge comes from a rather old book I've read, I didn't argue very forcefully. Neither did he, and we had a very interesting little talk. He has a dealer friend in London, and will ask him to keep an eye out for a relatively good copy for me. He estimated a possible price at about 150,000~200,000 yen, quite a bit lower than the very bad copy I saw last year for sale in Gyokueido, in Kanda.

We also agreed that I should send him some samples, so that he could see my work for his own interest. I don't think that he will sign up, but I'd certainly like to spend some time with him, learning a bit about the rare book business.

All in all, a most interesting day.