My love of shikishi boards

[dick benbow]

reminds me of being a kid collecting my team's baseball cards ( at the time it was the cleveland indians) and looking for the up and coming rookie card... I don't suppose Hiroko can be considered a rookie, but each one of her works I just enjoy. I was fortunate to get two new ones today. One as a gift to say thank-you,
and one as a commission done to my satisfaction.... I always like to hear your comments. I gave her fair warning today about the next project. bull fighting in japan. I talked to a few friends today who had never heard of it. I ran across it many trips in Niigata prefecture (mountains for growing Koi) where farmers entered bulls to fight each other. Not a goring session but very much like sumo where the bulls put strength against strength and pushed each other around till one tired/ got discouraged and quit fighting..... It's an aquired appreciation for ths sport, but nonetheless something to be enjoyed in the clear mountain air of summer......

 

[Smoke]

I like both.

 

[dick benbow]

thanks Smoke! The trend these days is to be seemingly moving away from scrolls because of the facilities used in shows that do not have adequate space to be able to attach the scrolls.
I've accepted that and will maintain my interest in them for my own purposes as it brings me much joy.

I was talking with a friend of mine from the UK, about the timing of our bonsai shows verses what they do in japan. from that conversation I have developed a new mantra for my own use that goes along with the japanese philosophy.....
" summer is for growing and winter is for showing"

Amazingly enough it suits another japanese hobby of mine also, and that is Koi.