Written on February 2, 1992 [Permalink]

February 1

A little better today - two orders. During the night there was about 16cm of snow, and we waited at the station for 50 minutes for a train, making us about half an hour late. Tachikawa cable TV was waiting for me, and I did a short segment that will be on the news later in the week.

The morning was deserted, but by noon the snow had become more passable and the place became jammed. I talked and printed endlessly, but with just the same reaction as the last few days. The two orders were from people I already know, not from 'general' viewers. Last chance tomorrow ...

Spent the evening working on the newsletter, and faxed most of it off to Michiyo care of NW Music. I'm still stuck on the Kaneko Shoten story, but had better not delay the rest, or the next issue will be late.

February 2

Another crazy day. Loads of people in, and talked till I was hoarse. A bit better in the order department, with the final total standing at eight people placing a mix of orders (five subs for the coming year, two subs for back numbers, and eight orders for back sets). I guess this will just about cover the ones who will be quitting this time, pretty much what happened last year. I'm going to be busy for days trying to get the stuff ready to send, along with thank you letters for all the people who brought flowers, etc. Akahito is really going to be late this month ...

One problem came up during the afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. Shimada, people who came last year and ordered a double subscription (new plus back number) came around again today, and of course I had no idea who they were. I only saw them for 30 minutes or so a year ago, on the same day that I talked to another hundred or so people, and was completely unable to recognize them. Of course, everybody recognizes me, but how on earth am I supposed to remember them? After we got it straightened around, he was OK, but his wife seemed a bit put off (no wonder - they spent 200,000¥ with me over the course of the year ...). I'll have to send a letter explaining the problem and apologizing ...

The last person to come this evening was Usami sensei, the nihonga painter I met with Yamashita-san one day a couple of years ago. At that time, he didn't show any interest at all in the work, and merely nodded politely when Yamashita-san told him about my project. Today he called the gallery during the afternoon and asked them to have me stay a bit late after closing so he could come and see the prints. He ordered a set of the third year prints ...