Delivering Personalised Books (Part I)

With the limited time before leaving Japan, there were not enough copies for everyone I wrote in the book. In the end, I delivered to the people I documented in the book that influenced me deeply, and our close relationship continues until now. Also, the people around me, such as my landlord, who took care of me, and the lady who fed me when I was hungry. 

First Copy

“C” represents Terry Riley's “In C”, and when it's a rainbow turned sideways. The cover is silver and gold paint on washi. The back cover has the sign of infinity made with a long kozo plant, as he turned 88 years old this year.  

I attended Terry-san's raga lesson every month for over a year. I handed him the book at my last raga lesson before leaving Japan.

Terry-san said, “Oh wow! I had never received a book like this! I will cherish it, I will savour it. Touch how it feels!”

“I'm sorry, the book is full of mistakes.”

“Whaaaaat is a mistake? Is someone from Jupiter looking at the world will say, oh look she made a mistake? Ahaha!”, said Terry-san. 

The raga room tuner said, “We all love mistakes!!!”

The third time we said goodbye that day, Terry-san again said “Thank you for the book. Write me an email sometimes.” At last, I received a big hug. 

Second Copy

Cover made from kozo plants, pattern formed by water droplets,
signifying the sounds of nature. 

I booked my flight after August 5th so I could attend Akio Suzuki's performance at Hiroshi Yoshimura's exhibition in Kamakura, where I delivered my second book. 

What happened at the time
I thought I would be free in July after my resignation, so in June, I asked my sister, “Come to Japan~” In July, I sensed how tough bookmaking was, so I said, “Don't come~”

“What an asshole!”

My sister was selling street food on the streets and opening a restaurant during the pandemic. For her first holiday in three years, I made her walk the ancient pilgrimage trail of Kumano Kodo in Wakayama Prefecture in boiling summer.

“I came to Japan for you, but where are you? You only have three days for me?!”

I continued to make the book. 

“You're making a book? What is it about? You don't have a copy for your own sister?”

At dinner, my sister said complained about the way I talk, it's so jumpy. I have troubles communicating with my own sister. 

Ancient pilgrimage trial Kumano Kodo

“I will do calligraphy tomorrow morning.”

“You have a brush with you?”

“Yup.”

“You've got ink too?”

“Yup.”

“What else do you have in your bag?”

“Two books.” (Cutter, ruler, glue, and more..)

For three days, we started walking at 7 am. I woke up at 5 am to write “Sound Chronicles” in calligraphy, but none was usable. The brush got split ends in my backpack...

A rock found between an onsen and a river in Wakayama.

While my sister was in the river onsen, I kept pounding the rock to find the best-sounding rock. 

“Stop it. Give me some peace.”

At night, “Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!” I saw a disastrous mistake on Suzuki-san's copy, in his chapter! I rubbed my eyes, and it was still there! It's so rude if I don't switch the pages! “I need go to back home tomorrow evening.”

“NO!!!!!!!!!!!” with an almost crying voice from my sister. 

Eventually, I took the earliest train at 6:45 am and arrived at home at 2 pm. I need to head to Kamakura at 3:30 pm. I removed the thread to rebind the book and took deep breaths when the threads entangled. With extra time, I kept on writing “Sound Chronicle”, and none of it was good. I used the one I wrote a week ago, then the glue incident...

After the performance, I handed over the wrapped book to Suzuki-san. We only had a few minutes. He shook my hand and slowly said, “The most important is your health”, then “Talk to you via mail again ne.”

Next Day, Third Copy

I no longer have a place to stay in Tokyo. I stayed on the sofa at a friend's house. In the morning, I spent hours writing “Sound Chronicle” in calligraphy.

“I want to deliver my book to Neutral Colors on my last day in Japan.”

“You can't find a title you like right now. Do you think you can write one in two days?”

“Yeah.”

She rolled her eyes and shook her head, and said “5 years.”

With unbelievable mistakes and poor quality, can I hand it to Neutral Colors? The book was made with the generous help of Neutral Colors. The cover is the same as my personal copy.

The book went through Kumano Kodo, and the rock was found between the onsen and the river, wrapped inside washi. 

“Is this okay? This is very precious”, said Katoh-san. 

“This is in the shape of an ear.”

Pokkon! The stone dropped. 

Two Days Before Departure - Additional Nine Copies?

“Can I get a copy? I want to read your book as a reference book for my next project.”

My close friend, Nick, is making a documentary series on jazz kissa. After nine years of hardship and a dark tunnel, his dream will be screened very soon!!! Before leaving Japan, I left my records at his place, and we watched an episode as planned. 

“Eigakan's film is not finished yet. I still want to fix something. Let's watch the rock episode”, said Nick. 

“No! No! Eigakan! Eigakan!! Eigakan!!!”

Ten minutes into the film. I just visited Eigakan, and my real-life experiences intersected with the film. Yoshida-san's bright eyes and bustling enthusiasm. My eyes were filled with warm tears, then I had a runny nose. Although Yoshida-san does not remember me, I should give him a copy. I came this far, and I must not forget the beginning!!! For several times, I had the thought of ordering extra paper before leaving Japan, but it was flooded away with other tasks. This time, the thought is powerful. If I don't order paper now, I will definitely regret. 

Spice Curry in Shimokitazawa
“I don't think you would have made this book if you didn't have ADHD.” 

(Huh?)

After our spice curry meal, I asked Nick, “It's better to give one copy to Yoshida-san right?”

“Yoshida-san would be re-aally happy to receive your book”, he answered with a serious face. 

At night - Returned to my previous share house

I told my housemate that I'm buying more paper to make more books tomorrow. 

“That's such a stupid idea. A new chapter, a new life! Forget about the book. Just drop it!!!”, he yelled.

“Cannot drop!!! You don't understand my feelings!!!”

After a while with a calm voice, he said “Yeah, I don't know.”

Then, without a room, I slept on my housemate's floor.
Painful back...

Next Chapter: Four more books to deliver!