The books adopt a traditional Japanese binding method, retchoso from the Hei-an period. Nine copies were crafted based on personal stories and relationships.
The charcoal washi cover is self-made from kozo plants in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, Japan.BOOKMAKING PROCESS - ORIGINAL EDITION
My Personal Copies
A book bruised with printing mistakes, bound with bandage. A titleless personal copy made from kimono obi belt.
For Long Email Lady
Long Email Lady is the same age as my sister, who feeds me when I’m hungry. I gave her my record player, so that’s the cable she needs. On the second hand bike I got from her, which I rode for three years.
お腹が空いた時、ご飯を作ってくれる📧 彼女にレコードプレイヤーをあげたから、必要となるケーブル。彼女からもらった中古自転車を3年ほど乗っていた。
For Terry Riley
The silver C represents Terry Riley’s iconic In C. It becomes a rainbow sideways, A Rainbow in Curved Air. The back of the book has a sign of infinity, as he turned 88 years old this year.
Before leaving Japan, I delivered the book after my last raga lesson with Terry-san.
“Oh wow! I had never received a book like this! I will cherish and savour it. Hold it and look how it feels!”
シルバーの「C」を横から見ると🌈になる。今年は88歳になった ∞
日本を離れる前、最後のラーガレッスンに本を渡しに行った。
「Oh wow! すご〜い。このような本は初めてもらった。大切にして少しずつ味わっていく。本の感触、持ってみて」
For Akio Suzuki
A rock found between an onsen and a river in Wakayama, Japan. Cover made from kozo plants, pattern formed by water droplets.
自然音を探求してきた鈴木さん。川と温泉の融合で借りた石。楮で作られた表紙の上、水滴で生まれた模様。
“The way of living – you gain better experience if you don’t decide. I empty myself, like a sponge, which absorbs and expands greatly.”
「生き方というものを、決めない方が自身のために良い体験が積める。スポンジみたいに空っぽになっちゃて、吸収してたくさん膨らむでしょう」
For My Dear Landlord
“Can I get a copy?”
Three years ago, my travel editor landlord compared my Japanese to a third grader, but I didn’t stop writing.
“The foreword is crap. Not a complete disaster, you barely made it”, he gave a faint hope at last.
My dear landlord, the mini light is for the dark narrow alley on your way home. Thank you for all the valuable life lessons, and always making me feel like I have a home to return to.
「一冊もらえる？」
3年前、大家さんに文章は小学3年生と言われても書き続けた。
「前書きがまずい。完全にだめではなく、かろうじて」。先月、彼はほんの少しの希望を与えてくれた。
大好きな大家さん、暗く細い家への帰り道、このライトを使ってください。いつも人生の教訓を教えてくださって、ありがとうございました。帰る家があって嬉しいかぎりです。
For My Two Close Friends
I witnessed their relationship evolve into a family.
“What would you like for your wedding present?”
“Your book.”
“Furniture for your new place?”
“your book, your book, your book, your book, your book, your book.”
“…”
“We will read it to Asha-kun (due in October baby).”
“What????? Is that okay?!”
Pink Suitcase Lady’s husband raised his voice, “I wanna know what is going on in your brain!”
家の外で拾った葉っぱ。
赤ちゃんのベット。
恐竜の靴下。
For the World’s Craziest Fan of Akiyoshi Toshiko
6 pm flight. Mailed at 5 pm in Narita Airport. The book traveled to the hands of the craziest fan of 93 years old jazz pianist, Toshiko Akiyoshi.
Terui-san intended to delve a little bit into the history of her music, and that “a little bit” has turned out to be nearly half a century.
午後6時の飛行機。5時に成田空港で投函。本は盛岡に旅を立つ。93歳のジャズピアニスト穐吉敏子の「世界一クレイジーなファン」である照井さんは彼女について少し勉強しようと、その「少し」が半世紀となった。
Self-made washi, and I assumed his favorite color is pink, beacuse he has a pink toilet, bathroom and suitcase.
