Chapter 14 Carousel talk about the happy end of painters and writers

Murakami: I always talk about things that have nothing to do with painting. Anxi: Well, yeah. Murakami: I talked about it once in a magazine before, but I really enjoyed it, right? Anxi: Yes. Murakami: Working with you seems to have started very early.It was originally published in the "TODAY" magazine of the Bureau of Cultural Publishing. Anxi: I remember.It is for the "Fire Burning Cloud in the Mirror" in this book. Murakami: The one with the dog.That is…… Ansi: The original work. Murakami: I saw it once before, when I went to drink. Anzai: Go to your shop, from Sendagaya.

Murakami: Then I beg you to design the cover of the book, right?What did you do before? Anxi: Well before...maybe there were magazine illustrations or something. Murakami: After that did the Part-time Job News (serialized Murakami Asahido)? Anxi: Well, after that.There was a book before that, the first—. Murakami: At that time, when it came to the cover design of the book, Makoto Wada and Akiji Yamato were the most high-end ones, right?I just debuted, how should I put it, I feel that the barriers to entry are high and it is not easy to ask for it.Therefore, I begged Maki Sasaki for the long story.

Anxi: After seeing the binding, to be honest, I thought who it was.It looks familiar, but I can't remember it.As Sasaki Maki, I think her paintings are a little different from usual ones.I think it's better that way. Murakami: Generally speaking, you don’t want to go to Maki for the cover.After all, he specializes in painting and comic strips. Anxi: Qiu Zhenji is engaged in bookbinding, I really have you. Murakami: It takes courage (laughs). Anxi: It's that kind of feeling. Murakami: In short, it is a force.The result was good, to my liking, and others thought it was pretty good.However, short story collections are completely different from novels, so I wanted to hire a completely different person to do it, so I hired you.Speaking of your paintings, at that time I was still painting "Friends of the Middle Class" (written by Mitsusaburo Arashiyama)...

Anxi: Like a cartoon. Murakami: I have that impression.But I thought it was very fresh, so I begged you... It turned out that I was right. Ansi: I was afraid that I would mess it up, so I tried to take the lines out of the drawing—kind of like cutting out paper. Murakami: Yes, paper-cutting and stickers.You haven't done so much before, have you? Ansi: No, hardly any.So I guess that many people think that the binding is not made by me. Murakami: That's right, I can't tell that it was you who painted it. Anxi: The things you write, especially short stories, I think it is not appropriate to use pictures to give people a strong impression.For example, I'm afraid it's better not to draw people and faces as much as possible.That is to say try not to show yourself and actually show it, which seems to be the best.Finally, the editor called and told me that Murakami was very satisfied, so I was relieved, really.

Murakami: My book, many people say that it is difficult to do illustrations. Anxi: It's easy to just paint. The problem is that some people feel that they should not be hasty. Murakami: When I asked someone to draw the cover.I have an expectation that the lines will be somewhat misaligned in the final processing.It is difficult to understand the result at the beginning, and it is difficult to clearly explain what kind of lines to use.When I begged you, I also said that I hope to be more misaligned, right? Anxi: How should I put it? In short, I usually remove the lines that I think are the most expressive in my paintings.In this regard, I can somewhat feel my concerns about Maki Sasaki (laughs).Of course, I still arrange according to my own emotions, such as color tone and tailoring method.It is very gratifying for people to see something that does not belong to the general field.

Murakami: You have a good understanding.What the other party is after and how to deal with it appropriately, your ability to capture and feel is absolutely excellent, so you can make people feel at ease. Anxi: Having received vocational training in an advertising agency, this thing is naturally clear to me. Murakami: It’s hard enough for you (laughs). Anxi: But I definitely can understand the other party's mood.So whenever you mention something, I know that's how it feels.Adding something of my own to it can often produce something satisfactory.You said you wanted to use word processing, and I wanted to do that too at that time.

Murakami: My request is wordy enough.This time I also mentioned that just writing is enough. Anxi: Some people are absolutely uncomfortable when you ask for it, but that doesn't seem to be the case with you.At the beginning, you finish talking in a few words, and then you stop making irresponsible remarks.Maybe it's because of the compatibility, it's very handy to draw down. Murakami: There are contrasts between Maki's paintings and yours, or in other words, there are conscious differences.Maki's paintings—how should I put it—are paintings that limit the space, but your paintings "stretch" the space.Long story seeks the truth, short story please, although it is not a division of labor, it is difficult to reverse it.It takes about a year of effort to write a long novel.After finishing writing, if there is something like the aftermath of energy, I will take it to Michi Michi.She also seems to have the energy to take it head-on.Your situation is different - write a few short stories and ask for help, and you can tinker with them after you say "I know".After I came out, I saw that many things were stored inside.So, little things mostly beg you.There is an inclusiveness to your paintings.The cover of the book must have such a feeling.

Murakami: At first, I wanted to use word processing for that book, but it feels like a book published by Shinchosha not long after the war... (laughs). Anxi: Yes yes (laughs). Murakami: I prefer ones with a bit of nostalgia.In the Showa 30s there were often books like that, right? Anxi: Most of them are pamphlets. Murakami: For example, Fukasawa Shichiro's "Mt. Muji Mountain Festival Examination". Anzai: There is also the binding of Shintaro Suzuki's book. Murakami: They're both quite emotional. Anxi: Yes.That time, Xinchao News Agency called and told me the title of the book.I wrote a few strokes on the table - "Firefly".I thought this book would be enough just to write, so I posted it.Later, when the deadline for the manuscript was approaching, I wrote several more, but none of them exceeded the initial few strokes.In the end, the one I handed in was the one I wrote while listening to the radio.Maybe I shouldn't say that in terms of work (laughs).

Murakami: The business seems to be going well (laughs). Anxi: But I did write a lot!Dozens of written ones should be this one, that one is the best. Murakami: But really (laughs)?The more time goes by, though, the better that cover gets.Just right for a pocketbook, that cover.Opening the book and turning it into a smile will produce a different taste from ordinary booklets, and it will become a very good cover. Anxi: When you said that you can just write, I think you might as well try it, even though my handwriting is quite funny. Murakami: The writing is not bad, I like it... what else did you do? "Asahi Murakami Hall"?Very Japanese.

Anxi: Well, that teacup, I really like the shape of the teacup and the teapot.Especially the teacup, no matter from which angle you look at it, its shape is impeccable.There is a Japanese beauty. Murakami: I got the teacup painting. Anzai: For "Murakami Asahido", I am absolutely suitable to draw a teacup, so I drew it.Something like the old Japanese cake boss... Murakami: Some people say that you can’t tell what book it is just by taking the title of the book and the picture (laughs). Anxi: What kind of book would you think (laughs)... Murakami: ... Anzai: "Murakami Asahido", and...

Murakami: And "Counterattack". Ansi: "Counterattack" wanted to use "Indiana Jones" from the beginning. Murakami: That's right.From the time the book was called "Murakami Asahido's Counterattack", I thought it must be it.The so-called Spielberg line. Anxi: Well, the editor said that putting the title of the book in the whip was messy, and told me to replace the whip with a gun—it was very nerve-wracking at the time (laughs). Murakami: It's nerve-wracking.It’s meaningless if it’s not a whip (laughs). Anxi: It's like a Western (laughs). Murakami: But I also like that painting, and I am going to ask you for the original manuscript and hang it up. Event, Cat's Counterattack Murakami: Speaking of the original manuscripts, there are some, the fusuma painting incident? Anzai: The sliding door painting incident (laughs). Murakami: Uh——, I built a house and made a Japanese-style room. Please help me with hanging scrolls and partition paintings. The snow-white partition is ready.I said please start work, you told me to put water in the bucket and bring it together with the newspaper, saying that the newspaper can be placed under it to avoid soiling the tatami, and the bucket is used to wash pens.Let me close the door again and leave you alone for a while.I said yes.After half an hour, there was no movement. I was a little worried. I opened the door and saw that you were reading a newspaper. You were reading the old newspapers on the floor (laughs), but you didn’t do anything.This is the whole picture of the fusuma painting incident (laughs). Anxi: Ah, let me tell you, it was my first time to paint a partition.Before that, you told me that I agreed without hesitation, but in fact, failure is not allowed in painting.I thought this was bad.Of course, I don’t feel like I might as well give it a try (laughs).Anyway, I had to be perfunctory at the beginning. I asked what kind of paper the paper was, and you sent the paper over after making a mistake (laughs). Murakami: Yes, I sent sample paper (laughs). Anxi: The pressure is even greater (laughs).In this way, I roughly "brushed" the drawing on the paper at home, and found that the movement of the pen is not bad, good paper. Murakami: It must be good paper.It was specially selected for the fusuma painting. Anxi: The pen feels good and the paper is good.I ran to have a look, and the Japanese-style room was formal and regular.Unexpectedly, when the painting started, there was a thunderbolt and lightning, and hailstones fell. He Nian was dramatic, which is considered a blessing from heaven (laughs).I feel very embarrassed to paint in that state, let alone for others to see, right?Fortunately, you understood, brought the newspaper, and left me alone.But it's not good to draw too fast, so I just read the newspaper for a while.There happened to be a report on the three-game winning streak of the Chinese and Japanese DARAGONS baseball teams (laughs)...Where did the newspaper get it? Murakami: Yes. Anxi: It has the date on it. Once you look it up, a series of reports will come out.I was fascinated by it, but I happened to see it for you (laughs). Murakami: At first you said that you wanted to pluck feathers like Yuzuru and draw them, and not allow people to see them, otherwise you would not be able to draw them.I opened the door and saw that as expected, I just read the newspaper and did nothing.And it took only five minutes to finish all the drawings.It took only five minutes to finish the painting, which is really amazing, after all, there are four partitions.I don't know if it's because of high art and boldness, or because of cutting corners (laughs). Anxi: Ah, it's a high level of concentration... (laughs) Fortunately, reading the newspaper calms down my mood (laughs). Murakami: Is that so (laughs)? Anxi: It just didn't take much time... Murakami: Five minutes (laughs). Anxi: I sweated more than ten kilograms, rushing. Murakami: I didn't see it, I didn't see sweat. Anxi: Hidden. Murakami: If I saw it, I would say something else (laughs). Anxi: It's a joy to take. Murakami: Then there was a counterattack from the cat.Don't you like cats and dogs on New Year's Day? Anxi: In order to monitor my actions, you took the Siamese cat... Murakami: Let the cat go (laughs). Anxi: "Let the cat go" (laughs).When I called your name last time, I was embarrassed by that voice, almost like a strange call. Murakami: I thought the black bear was coming, but it turned out to be Mao Sahuaner (laughs). Anxi: However, the partition door is very good.Usually I don't think much about painting, but it's really fun to paint. Murakami: The hanging scroll shows apples and bananas.They are actually the sun and the moon, but when I told them they were apples and bananas, everyone believed them (laughs). Anxi: It was painted at the place where I was working, and I also drew several pictures. I picked the best one among them. Murakami: Really good.A few days ago, the two went to the hot spring together for one night. The scrolls in the room and the lines of the painting were very imaginative.It turned out that a famous painter became enlightened at the age of eighty-nine, and it was very easy to reach this level (laughs).The lines are exactly the same as that one.If you are in your forties, you will not be enlightened (laughs). Anxi: That's a circle, the light is the sun.However, the thick ink was very successful. Murakami: In the past, a famous painter in the Renaissance period was called to the princes and nobles, and he drew a circle with a big brush and came back.It is said that the circle is perfect. Anxi: Perfect circle. Murakami: Well, you are also in that realm. Anxi: You can only draw circles (laughs). Murakami: Anzai Mizumaru's pills are not ordinary pills. Murakami: Well, paintings and words have nothing to do with each other. Anxi: Some people persuaded me to publish a picture book or something, but I always feel a little uninterested in my "painting book". If I want to work with someone, I just call and you agree. Murakami: Me, some people asked me if I could publish a collection of essays, but I was embarrassed.Firstly, I think novels are still my own business, and secondly, I am afraid that they will become so-called "Jade Essays" just like the essay collections of very wrong writers.I don't want that.However, it’s okay to partner with someone (laughs). Anxi: I understand that very well.I also consider myself an illustrator. The word "painting book" made my face burn.This book is basically another back make. Murakami: Two or three articles are newly written, "Cade Sac Liquor Advertisement" and "A DAY IN THE LIFE".Ah, and this one is new too: My Name Is Archer.A few manuscripts were not decided where to publish, so they were stuffed in. Anxi: Cudesac's paintings are drawn by myself. Murakami: Really? Anxi: I wanted to draw Cade Sac, coincidence. Murakami: Ah, I see. Anxi: At that time, you considered two candidates for the title of the book: and "Merry Christmas in Xiangchang".Remember when I said Merry Christmas was limited to December, it was appropriate. Murakami: Yes, yes.And again after Merry Christmas in the Field. Anxi: Replace the word "Xiang" with the word "War", so it becomes "Merry Christmas on the Battlefield" (laughs).However, none of these paintings were drawn after reading your manuscript. Murakami: Coincidentally, it is. Anxi: Incredible. Murakami: From this point of view, it is really an incredible book. Ansey: I'm afraid there are very few books like this. (September, Showa 61)

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Notes: , is a collection of short stories by Murakami.