Savoring the Joy

Hello! I am Toshio Tsukuda, a poet who delivers "heart charms" that make your heart feel light and airy.

I am currently collaborating on tanka poems with leather craft artist Hiroki Ao. Since we are both avid readers, we decided that something related to books would be great, so we chose to make book covers, and I composed the poems.

Then, thankfully, the person who commented "I'd like to buy one!" immediately after the announcement was Kyokuya-san, who also participated in the 7th anniversary project I held on note last month as well. I was already happy that they bought one, but they even introduced it on note! (≧∀≦)

Kyokuya-san, thank you so much!!!!
I am so happy that you liked it. Truly, Ao-san's work is meticulous and wonderful, isn't it?

And I am deeply moved that you also liked the poem.

Actually, for this poem, the first line, "We read books to dream," was quite difficult to come up with. I had the image in my head, but it was a difficult poem to give birth to because I couldn't quite shape it into words.

Because of that, I had Ao-san extend the deadline we had initially discussed, and I just kept facing my computer, writing poems.

I saw the light about three days after the deadline. While I was writing and deleting dozens of poems, the words "We read books to dream" suddenly emerged.

That is why Kyokuya-san's words were truly moving to me.

Since it is a poem I am fond of myself,
being able to send it to you for your 1st anniversary on note,
there is nothing that makes me happier.
(Congratulations on your 1st anniversary on note! (≧∀≦))

And because Kyokuya-san bought the book cover,
I can proudly call myself a "tanka poet."
As a first-year professional tanka poet, I want to continue writing poems
that will become "heart charms" for those who read them.

So, this was a story about how when you savor joy,
happiness comes along with it, all piled on.

[Notice]
We are currently accepting orders for handmade original book covers,
a collaboration between leather craft artist Hiroki Ao and
Tsukuda featuring tanka poems!
Limited to 4 copies, let's savor the joy together!

[I also write articles like this]

I am also waiting for your follow on
X (formerly Twitter)!

https://twitter.com/toto_books

Thank you for reading until the end.