What I'm thinking about now: how these norms, born in manga/anime fandoms around fictional works, translate to fandoms of real people—athletes, musicians, idols. There, the material shared is often interviews and photos, not transformative works. The ethics get more complicated. More soon.

A question out of genuine curiosity about fandom history, not criticism: how did the ethics around fan translation, fansubbing, and transformative works develop in English-speaking fandoms? I know the classics of fan studies (Jenkins' Textual Poachers), but I'd like to hear from fans themselves.

We made a pair of obidome featuring Fujin and Raijin using urushi. An obidome is a decorative clasp or ornament worn on the cord over an obi, the sash used with kimono. These pieces are very finely crafted.

Goldfish in taka-maki-e. A private commission from an overseas collector — about one year from design to completion. The scales are the most demanding part: each one is layered, dried, and polished separately before the next can begin. There are no shortcuts in this technique. #fountainpen

These are photos from that time. The mountainside had collapsed. His house was gone.

Yesterday, July 5, marked nine years since the devastating floods in northern Kyushu. The Masue district of Asakura was among the hardest hit—entire mountainsides collapsed.

Professional photographers capture the charm of my work far better than I can. #fountainpen #pen #ink #urushi #matsuzawa

疲れたな…

Goldfish in taka-maki-e. A private commission from an overseas collector — about one year from design to completion. The scales are the most demanding part: each one is layered, dried, and polished separately before the next can begin. There are no shortcuts in this technique. #fountainpen

やっとananの一問一答を読めたのに、もうネットで見てしまった質問があって、悔しさで泣けてくる。初見で受け取りたかった。Prequelもそうだった。

I bought the latest issue of anan with the Yuzuru Hanyu feature, planning to sit down with it properly later. Before I could, a post appeared in my feed reproducing some of the photographs and part of the interview. I saw it before I could look away.

Haruki Murakami’s new book came out today, and the bookstore had stacks of copies on display. When I was younger, I read everything he wrote. But these days, I somehow don’t feel drawn to his new books, so I didn’t buy it. It’s not that I dislike him now, though. www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

A friend sent me a photo of a paper wasp🐝 building its nest. The material it uses to anchor the nest looks very much like urushi. If it really is urushi, this could suggest that insects were making practical use of urushi long before humans did.

We made a pair of obidome featuring Fujin and Raijin using urushi. An obidome is a decorative clasp or ornament worn on the cord over an obi, the sash used with kimono. These pieces are very finely crafted.

There were earthquakes again last night and tonight, and lately it feels like we’ve been having them almost every day here in Iwate. It just shook a little again even now 😑

This is a brochure introducing the Joboji area, Japan’s leading urushi-producing region. I wish they had proudly used the word urushi instead of translating it as “lacquer”...

An urushi sap collector — someone who harvests sap from urushi trees — was attacked by a bear the other day. In response, a bear-safety briefing was reportedly held for the craftspeople: carry bear spray, wear a bear bell, and keep a radio on to make noise.

We are currently adding urushi decoration to this fountain pen. The blue textile underneath was dyed and woven by my aunt.

Crottals I wash the wool his mother spun And dyed in a tin bath Colours from machair flowers Scraped from rocks Woven from the very land Slim and nimble fingers Knotted and danced Smoothing down threads As she went A narrow loom Long bound-strips Singing the songs Taught at the knee #PegsPoyums

Work has begun on the “Moby-Dick” fountain pen. First comes Captain Ahab. #fountainpen

Strong earthquake jolts Yamanashi and surrounding areas www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/06...

M5.6 Earthquake Hits Japan’s Fuji Five Lakes Area in Yamanashi Prefecture; No Tsunami Warning Issued japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/gene...

There seems to have been a strong earthquake near Mt. Fuji just now. Earthquakes have felt unusually frequent across Japan lately, and honestly, it’s frightening.

Yuzuru Hanyu has taken the expressive possibilities of figure skating to a height uniquely his own. This note is my attempt to put into words what I felt in his performance of “Ikue.” note.com/japanjoboji/...

I received a request to paint Hokusai’s Tiger in the Snow on a fountain pen. This request also came from overseas. I have never received a commission like this from Japan.

漆愛に満ち溢れる内容でした笑　まだTVerで見られます。 ＜森星＞「漆っていう植物はすごいな」　花瓶の修復を機に夢中　“洗礼”も　「徹子の部屋」で(MANTANWEB) #Yahooニュース news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/b6c...

This old Japanese house was completely destroyed by the 2011 tsunami, but it was rebuilt last year using as many of the washed-away original materials as could be recovered. I was responsible for applying the urushi finish to the interior sliding doors known as obi-do.

My area was hit by a strong earthquake, intensity 5-upper on the Japanese seismic scale, but I’m safe. It left me feeling very anxious from early this morning. I sincerely hope there has been no serious damage.

I just felt an earthquake!

This old Japanese house was completely destroyed by the 2011 tsunami, but it was rebuilt last year using as many of the washed-away original materials as could be recovered. I was responsible for applying the urushi finish to the interior sliding doors known as obi-do.

Shibamune is a traditional feature used to protect the ridge of a thatched roof. Soil is placed along the top of the roof, and plants are grown to hold it in place. As their roots spread, they bind the soil, helping prevent the ridge from collapsing in wind and rain and reducing the risk of leaks.

A simple black fountain pen finished entirely with Japanese urushi. About 95% of the urushi used in Japan comes from China, and most of the remaining 5% of Japanese urushi is used for restoring cultural properties such as shrines and temples. It is very rare for it to be used on a piece like this.

明日6月24日の徹子の部屋に森星さん。最近漆に沼っている星さん、どんなお話になるか楽しみです☺️ 私も漆関係でお話させていただいたことがあります。 森星、祖母・森英恵さんデザインのスーツ着こなす　『徹子の部屋』に登場 | オリコンニュース（ORICON NEWS） www.oricon.co.jp/news/2463010...

There are both Chinese and Japanese methods of harvesting urushi, but many Japanese urushi artists use Chinese urushi while showing photos of the Japanese harvesting method. I have always found this strange, but almost no one points it out.

A simple black fountain pen finished entirely with Japanese urushi. About 95% of the urushi used in Japan comes from China, and most of the remaining 5% of Japanese urushi is used for restoring cultural properties such as shrines and temples. It is very rare for it to be used on a piece like this.

Thank you Jeff-san😀

The Itsuō Art Museum is holding an ukiyo-e exhibition from July focused entirely on villains. What an intriguing theme. It makes me want to create a maki-e fountain pen series devoted only to villains.

松沢漆工房のオンラインショップページを更新しました。 これまでは、大船渡の火災復興支援アクセサリーを前面に出しておりましたが、火災から1年が経過したこともあり、あらためて当工房本来の漆の仕事を中心にご覧いただける構成へと戻しました。 復興支援アクセサリーにつきましても、引き続きお取り扱いしております。 今後ともどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。 japanjoboji.thebase.in

It’s an expensive book, but I ordered it to learn more about fountain pen nibs😆

My note articles can now be read in English. I write mainly about urushi lacquer, kintsugi, Japanese craft, and regional culture—sometimes with a few personal reflections as well. I would be very happy if English-speaking readers could take a look. note.com/japanjoboji

I love the urushi tree itself as a plant🌱 Of course, I love urushi lacquerware and urushi art in general, but without this tree, none of our work would be possible. It is a truly remarkable tree that gives us so many blessings✨️

Urushi Leaves and Young Fruits

Today, it was reported that a local urushi sap tapper was attacked by a bear in the mountains and seriously injured. Urushi tapping is probably one of the jobs in Japan with the highest risk of bear encounters. The harvesting season has only just begun, so I am deeply worried about the months ahead.

松沢漆工房のオンラインショップページを更新しました。 これまでは、大船渡の火災復興支援アクセサリーを前面に出しておりましたが、火災から1年が経過したこともあり、あらためて当工房本来の漆の仕事を中心にご覧いただける構成へと戻しました。 復興支援アクセサリーにつきましても、引き続きお取り扱いしております。 今後ともどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。 japanjoboji.thebase.in

My note articles can now be read in English. I write mainly about urushi lacquer, kintsugi, Japanese craft, and regional culture—sometimes with a few personal reflections as well. I would be very happy if English-speaking readers could take a look. note.com/japanjoboji

There was an earthquake in Japan’s Kanto region yesterday, but thankfully there does not seem to have been much damage. What struck me, however, was how useless X has become for gathering disaster information. The timeline no longer feels real-time at all.

漆黒シリーズ第3弾を書きました。 note.com/japanjoboji/...

Tools and materials used in my kintsugi classes.

We decorated a pair of professional hairdressing shears inspired by a famous Japanese sword. All of the decoration was done with urushi, including the delicate patterns and the hamon, the blade’s temper-line.

We decorated a pair of professional hairdressing shears inspired by a famous Japanese sword. All of the decoration was done with urushi, including the delicate patterns and the hamon, the blade’s temper-line.