How I made my book② Paper & Layout

The book was initially planned for completion within the year. However, I received an overseas offer before the second meeting, which I decided to leave Japan. Therefore, book-making process was accelerated to the end of July. 

Firstly, I need to find paper, and finish the rough layout of the book! 

Paper Shops in Tokyo

I was looking for 70 kg ~ 90 kg paper. For this book, thicker paper is harder to bind, and if it’s too thin the printed colours will go through the opposite page. 

Ozu Washi (Nihonbashi, Tokyo)

I expected to find more options of washi paper that can be printed.

On the first floor, there was a washi paper experience place, and upstairs there were exhibitions about the history of washi, and even displays of washi dresses! 

TAKEO (Kanda, Tokyo)

I bought two types of machine made washi, and a few papers with vivid colour. 

Paper NAO (Hakusan, Tokyo)

The washi here was very thick and crispy. The staffs were dying the paper with colours extracted from flowers and plants. I was drawn to the washi that was soft like a silk. I planned to place the soft paper after the front cover, which reveals contrast. The shop staff advised me that I should decide on one thing first, then the next.

Paper in Kyoto, First Wedding & Ambulance  

I was at Kyoto to attend my friend’s wedding, and I planned to visit paper shops there. However, right before the wedding, I fainted and hit my head that caused heavy bleeding. When I got my conscious back the ambulance came, and the doctor stapled my head in the hospital without any notice. I screamed and cried. So Brutal.

The doctor said, “Forget about the wedding and behave. Don’t go anywhere for 1-2 days.”

At the Wedding 
 “You are very proper today”, my friend said to me. 

I smiled back. (because I lost a lot of blood from my head...)

Under the rain, everybody headed to the afterparty, and I was alone. Before I went to bed, BOOOM, my forehead hit the ceiling and got a huge bump. My head, forehead and arm, I slept in utmost pain...

The Next Day 
When I was holding the paper I received from the hospital:

“When you hit your head hard, it can cause various changes in the brain. Especially, when bleeding occurs in the intracranial part, it can often be life-threatening, so please be cautious. It may happen immediately after the injury, or happen several months after your injury.”

The idea of not being able to see the changes happening inside our brain was horrifying. Although I am fine now, anything can happen anytime and anywhere. For my next journey, I planned to study and work to my limit. How do I pay the bills? Everything is connected to our brain, I was feared by the vulnerability of our body. I didn’t want to make my family worried of my foolish behaviours (again), and yet my mind was occupied with paper, paper and paper. While taking breaks, I slowly walked to a paper shop. Then, it became five, and ended with two Kyotographie exhibitions...

At Kyotographie exhibition, I flipped through the bilingual photography books and checked the space between the lines (leading). It seemed like they were wider, so I imitated it for my own layout.

(If there are no abnormalities for the next two months, then it should be fine. Fortunately, everything is fine now!)

Second Meeting

• The rough layout was around 200 pages. 

• Picked around five types of paper for test print on the smooth side The best result and colour was the machine-made washi Yamabiko Hosho, then we printed on the other side (rough), which turned out great as well. 
  Tips: It's better to put a post it note and label the paper right after purchase regardless of the receipt. 

“I'd like to read it”, said Katoh-san and Nakagawa-san.

????? (I thought they might see parts of it when I print at Neutral Colors, but I never thought my childish writings would be read...)

Then, while Katoh-san's gaze fixed on the screen scanning through the layout, he said “nice pictures” expressionless. 

(?)

I was talking to Nakagawa-san, I heard him murmured “nice pictures” for the third time.

（I stayed calm on the outside, but EY%#$”&%$’8%$&#%!!!） 

Three weeks later, After the “Ant Plant” Talk Event

I'm not sure how it happened, but Katoh-san offered to correct my Japanese for the entire book! 

“Your precious time..”

“It's okay. I read it before I sleep.”

“Thank you...” (That's the most valuable time...)

(Whaaaaaaaat? Katoh-san will correct my book even when he's so busy while having an exhibition in Nagoya???)

At Home

“Kawada-san, Kawada-san, what should I do?”, I asked my 78 years old landlord. 

“Thats the good intention from him, the only think you can do is accept it and say thank you.”

When the bookbinder Nakagawa-san came to my house to teach me imposition, she said that's “Katoh-san's goodwill.”

Writing Correction 

In stitching the experiences into a book revealed my growth as a person and language (or there's no growth at all ><). The question was, to what extent should I edit my writings... Even when I read my own writings, there were sentences that did not make sense, so I decided to edit all the texts before sending it to Katoh-san by June. 

Until now, I had been writing as if I was the first reader. Silly jokes and failures. Knowing that the second audience was Katoh-san, I was overwhelmed with pressure. I stuffed my head under the pillow, held my head, and screamed “rawrrrrr what should I do.” Cutting my own road, how stupid? I was so afraid that I decided to leave out my failure. On the same week, Akiyoshi-san said during dinner, “I’m the first audience of my performance, so I play what I feel.” 

Her words encouraged me to overcome this struggle. Thus, my first book was created completely for myself!!!

My new housemate: “You are more ADHD than my friend, who had been diagnosed with ADHD. You just haven’t gone to the hospital yet.”

……

Next Chapter: 
How I Made my Book③
Making Washi Paper from Kozo Plant