Written on September 10, 1990 [Permalink]

September 3

Spent most of the weekend carving and playing with the kids. Today I had planned to go to Tokyo to put in my passport application and then try and find some materials for the new term's classes, but on the way to the station I remembered that it was Labour Day (in Canada) and that the Embassy would be closed. I'll go tomorrow. A post office payment came in from Matsuuchi's friend, who started his subscription just a few months ago, along with a note - 'no more please'. No reason. That drops us down to 27.

A phone call came in the evening from Ushiro-san, Michiyo's middle school friend in Osaka. We had spent some time with them this summer at the beach - barbecue, etc. He asked to become a subscriber. That puts us back up to 28! Strange, the way things work ...

This afternoon, we dragged a mountain of framed prints out into the garden, lined them all up, and tried to take some kind of a picture that would be useful for the next promo flyer. We have absolutely nothing cooking at the moment, and It's been nearly a year since we sent out any information. I doubt though, that we got a decent picture. It's difficult!

September 6

Tuesday was Tokyo, Wednesday was English preparation, and today was classes. Back to the same old routine ... Stopped at the Kominkan for a while in the afternoon for some Karuta practice. They are planning some kind of an 'event' for this fall's bunkasai, and will want a bunch of framed prints for a display. I haven't heard anything yet from Mitsuyama-san about a printing demonstration. I'll have to drop in and see him about it when this month's print is ready.

September 7

Finished the final part of the face, and started the poem. On schedule I think! 70 sheets of paper wet to finish the printing on Toshi Yori Ason [2-7].

September 8

Sumi on the 70. Dropped the very first sheet off center on the block - great start! Actually the rest were fine, and this was a very smooth easy print run.

September 9

Not so smooth with the colours. I did the brown with double impression this time, as the previous run a couple of weeks ago just wasn't smooth enough. The impression from the brown kimono block wouldn't fit into the sumi lines - and a little inspection showed that the blocked was so warped (cupped) that the printing area was too small. I slapped some water over it and left it to sit for an hour or so. When I came back it had flattened out and was just fine. Finished up in the evening. 65 are OK. Now I'm not sure what to do with the previous batch (printed with the single impression). Should I use them, or print some more to match the ones just printed ..?

September 10

Called the printer to see what was happening on the newsletter (he had promised it by the 7th). "It'll be ready by about Thursday (the 14th)" While waiting I got envelopes ready, and had Himi-chan slap on the address labels that I had run off a while ago.

More carving on the poem.