[Limited to 5 copies!] Hiroki Ao x Toshio Tsukuda | Tanka Book Cover Order Start!

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

I mentioned last time that I was collaborating on tanka with leather craft artist Hiroki Ao to create book covers. Actually, we have finally started taking orders for a limited run of 5 copies.

[8/8 Update] One person has already purchased one, so there are [4 copies] left!

Combining the powers of leather stencil artist Ao and tanka poet Tsukuda, this is the work we have completed!

◆ Carving words, carving thoughts

Since Ao has already spoken about the work itself, I would like to talk about the tanka I composed for this book cover.

When I reached out to Ao and we had our meeting, the only thing decided was that it would be a poem related to books. However, as those who have seen Ao's articles might know, curves like those in hiragana are technically quite difficult.

On the other hand, if I used too many kanji, the elegance of the tanka would be lost. While considering that balance and imagining a "happy life with books," I drew many, many scenes and composed this poem with the wish that the person holding this book cover would be happy.

We

read books

to dream

In the map we write in

a shining rainbow

This might suddenly turn into a philosophical discussion, but when I was composing this poem, I found myself thinking, "What does it mean to live?" It doesn't really matter how you live, after all, it is your own life.

◆ Living a "story"

But when you look at life slowly, you realize that there is a story in every single thing. The white steam from the rice you eat in the morning, dark roast coffee, the elevator you barely made it into, the set meal restaurant with free refills you eat at with colleagues—it might seem ordinary, but each one of those things is life.

Life is so full of stories, yet many people don't notice. They walk through their days while having their hungover faces pressed against the train doors. At times like that, it is books that remind us of the stories and dreams within "me."

Yes, we read books to dream. Sometimes as a dream to forget sadness or regret, and other times to cheer on the dreaming self, praying that the dream will take shape.

The lines and words you write in your books become an important map for heading toward your dreams. And do you know? There is a shining rainbow that can only be found in books where you have drawn your dreams. That rainbow is your own, created by you.

May your dreams come true.
And may a shining rainbow reach you.

This is a one-of-a-kind handmade original book cover born from the understanding of Hiroki Ao, a leather craft artist who has created many book covers (thank you, Ao-san).

◆ Regarding delivery (Limited to 4 copies)

This is bunko size.
We are accepting orders for a limited quantity.

Limited to 5 items.

(*As of 8/8, 4 left)

Selling price 4,000 yen

Plus 430 yen for shipping.

Please note that the production period is expected to be about 10 days.
Since this is a limited made-to-order production, please order soon!
Feel free to leave any inquiries in the comments as well.
Thank you.

Thank you for reading until the end!

I am always encouraged by your likes, comments, follows, and tips.
Thank you so much!
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https://twitter.com/toto_books

[I am also writing articles like this]