Written on June 30, 1991 [Permalink]

June 25

Here's the block! (Does Shimano-san keep all his customers hanging on the edge like this?) Of course, pasted the hanshita down and started work. I don't really feel comfortable working on a block right away like this, and I'd much rather let it sit for a few days and acclimatize to local conditions.

Dressed the stones on the concrete outside, sharpened the knives, sat down .... and broke the tip with the very first stroke. This led to some moments of head-in-the-hands introspection. Just what the hell am I doing wrong?!? The idea occurred to me that perhaps I am stressing the blade somehow in the sharpening process, and that it then just needs a little push in the wood to break it. Back to the stones for an experiment. I decided to try and sharpen the blade with a reversed angle, the way that it should be for a left-handed carver (like me). So far, I've always used the blades sharpened the way that right handers use them, feeling that the bevel is so acute that it makes no difference one way or the other. (In the beginning I had simply used the knives as they came from the store, of course sharpened for 'right'). I used a rough stone and ground away at it until the blade angle was reversed, and then sharpened the cutting edge, not without some difficulty, as the knife had to be held in a completely different position in my hands.

So how was it? Well, it didn't break! (At least not right away - but after a good twenty minutes or so). What was more immediately apparent though, was the much better visibility of the cutting point. I really don't quite understand why it should be so different, but it is. It is much easier to see where the knife is going, and how thick the line being carved is. Let's see - it's taken me how many years to figure out that a left-handed carver should use a left-handed knife? Geez, I sure hope nobody ever reads this!

June 28

Carving on and off between English classes the last couple of days. Today was the second visit from Mr. Horisawa of Tokyo-to, to discuss the upcoming Fuji TV program. He brought the program producer and script writer with him, and we went over the whole thing, giving them enough information to put together a program outline. They are going to want the works - not only printing and carving, but playing with family, eating dinner, visiting Matsuzaki-san, etc. Filming is to take place one day late next week, starting 'early' in the morning (whatever that means ...)

June 29

Two presents today. A package in the mail from Dan Fletcher, the doll maker who visited a couple of months ago. It was a complete set of photocopies of the Hiroshi Yoshida book on printmaking, which he had promised to send. Interesting. I had actually had a short glance at this book many years ago (sitting in Adachi-san's genkan!), but this was my first chance to read it properly. It's a mine of information, and I can't help but wonder how things would have been different if I had had a copy all along .... (actually, given the recent experiences, I kind of doubt it would have made any difference at all). After reading through it I took it next door to the convenience store and made a set of copies for David in Okazaki. He should find it pretty interesting too.

The second present was from Himi's teacher, Baba sensei. He brought round Mr. Kato, one of the Grade three teachers, who had heard about the prints, and wanted to see them. He thought the stuff was pretty impressive, and asked to become a subscriber - in 1993. What he wants to do is take a set each bonus time. Set one now, set two in December, set three in July next year, and set four in December next year. That will leave him up-to-date, ready for a 1993 subscription. He was very friendly, and I think will become an enthusiastic supporter.

June 30

So that brings us to another anniversary. Tonight is the end of our fifth year in Japan. The first two and a half years fooling around with toys and English classes, the last two and a half years fooling around with Shunsho and English classes.... When I reminded Michiyo about the anniversary, she (predictably) just started blathering again about 'let's go back to Canada'. You must be joking! Go back to what - the music store? Getting a job somewhere? When something as big as this is going on? Get serious!