u/mukyodo

>芝士沙律 / Chef's Salad

He is a generic Hong Kong cop figure modelled in likeness to Tony Leung from the early 2000s. Still looking for a tiny paper Coca-cola cup to match the iconic scene..

Jun Ichikawa's vision of Tony Takitani is hauntingly beautiful: masterful cinematography, grading, and pacing. Sakamoto's soundtrack is just about the perfect pairing.

Not sure how many of you are out there as I know this sub skews towards modern and thinner leads (I get it, math homework demands it).

I feel alone in my quest for darker grade graphite with writing characteristics similar to Kohitsu shosha-yo woodcased pencils. I have been looking for a dark 1.18mm lead for the YOL Diplomat for quite some time. The factory B from YOL was a disappointment, it felt like writing with a Japanese HB.

It's also frustrating that Legendary Lead Co does not ship outside the US. I would love to try some of their .046" vintage leads. Has anyone tried these? I'd love to hear more.

I discovered that Eurobox in Japan commissioned some locally-made 4B for exactly this reason. They feel like 2B-3B to me, but at least I can get line variation with ease.

Sounding a bit hyperbolic, but this lead transformed the Diplomat into the top mech pencil spot for me. It's the EDC writing instrument of choice for all of its brush-like, old-timey charm.

I recently ventured back into the Rat series. Starting with Hear the Wing Sing, Pinball 1973, Wild Sheep Chase and Dance Dance Dance.

Since my first encounter decades ago, I noticed I've missed a few worthy works that I think fans would appreciate. I was aware of them but it wasn't exactly easy to find back then.

• Kazuki Omori's film adaptation of Hear the Wind Sing is more readily available now. It's beautiful to me as someone who loves the Showa vibes from the period. (first gen shinkansen, the freeze frame, a nod to French New Wave cinema, Half-time bar in Kobe serving as J's bar).
• 双子と沈んだ大陸 (The Twins and the Sunken Continent) was a short story that was never translated to English. It appears in the book パン屋再襲撃 (the Second Bakery Attack), which is readily available in the used market. I bought my copy used at Book-off. It was lovely to meet the twins 208, 209 again.
• While outside of the Rat universe, the film Tony Takitani can be purchased. It's beautifully shot with a perfect score from Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Does anyone know if I am missing anything else? I really enjoyed this period of his work, as it's semi-autobiographical and then pivots to fiction that many of us have come to appreciate.

I met up with a friend at the library yesterday to check out this exhibit.

• Pieces span centuries. I walked away feeling deeply inspired and with a renewed sense of resolve for the written word.
• I learned about the library's Special Collections where many of these items could be requested for closer study.
• Handwriting has survived countless innovations, including print and web. With pen in hand, I am curious about the next wave.
• I am feeling grateful for our library system, the people become curators of our culture.

For those who are local, you can still catch it before the exhibit's final day on Sunday, May 10th. For everyone else, I hope these images inspire you in your craft to pick up your pen.

Disclaimer, no affiliation with TPL, just a pen nerd who loves what we do here.