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Summary:
Today was quite simply awesome. I presented my Dragons to Dr. Ukifune-san and he and his compatriots loved them. He's taking them back to Japan with him and has decided that he wants to make a plaque and put them on public display. They were quite surprised I had pursued a english degree instead of an art degree. I was informed by the ones who spoke with me that they consider theman exquisite piece of craftsmanship and believe I have proved to be a master in my craft. Also, Dr. Ukifune gave me permission to name the oriental breed I created the Jikeinian after the Jikei prganization that he began and contiues to act as the head of. Dr. Ukifune-san asked that I make a Tiger for next year. I decided to take up the challenge (I've never done one before.). It was a whirlwind of meeting and speaking with amazing people.Today was one of those days I'll forever look back on fondly and sometimes with happy tears. It was just that good.
***
Ok. So I go there and I'm all jittery and nervous. What? I was presenting something I'd made and personally loved to the head of an entire corporation that spans Japan and also has international ties throughout the world. I thought he'd like it, but it wasn't a guarantee. He loved it by the way, which again, considering he'd kept the broken pieces of the first one in his office ever since I'd sent it, I don't know why I was so worried. When my name was called and I stood up, the members of his delegates/party who'd been there the last time I did this knew what was happening and their exclamations translated from "subarashi" which means "That is awesome" or something similar was gratifying. And then Dr. Ukifune saw them and realized they were his. He loved them. Literally. Really. And I was so glad I forgot to say anything I'd planned. So instead I said I'd learned a lot from the ones that had broken and I had done my best to make sure these wouldn't. So I went back to my seat.
A few minutes laterone of the translators came over and lead me back up front for pictures and discussion. Hirata-san remembered my grandmother and I told him she was there as well, so then there were introductions between everyone and the rest of my family. I finally got to discuss the dragons with Dr. Ukifune and it was just awesome. He intends to put them on public display with a plaque. So, I'm pretty much still giddy. He took my business card and it was just awesome. He had brought gifts for everyone as well. Some absolutely gorgeous books of art. One was done by Jikei students. Eventually he drifted off and I ended up speaking with Chris Fukuma who heads the western division of Jikei in the US from Los Angelos. Chris-san eventually helped me ask another question, which was could I name the oriental dragon after Dr. Ukifune's organization and I was given permission with a resounding "yes!".
I had intended to only be there until 1 or so, but I ended up staying until they left. I spent that time speaking with one representative or another interspersed with moments of speaking with Chris. Iwahara-san was one such representative and I learned that his name actually means "Man of the dragon" since he was born in the year of the Dragon. Isn't that awesome? I thought so. I also spoke with Hirata-san who is second in charge after Dr. Ukifune. We spoke about my trip to Japan and would I ever want to go back. I said yes of course! He also asked about my academic accomplishments. And over hear sometimes I get this startled look, like "don't you have enough degrees" and he was rather matter of fact about it as if having multiple degrees was simply the way of things and only to be expected. I answered his questions about what type of job I'd like to do in the future. I explained the multiple areas I'm looking for a job in and that while I would love to do my ceramics for a living, I know that is a dream and so I seek a job that will allow me to have both, even if my dragons are only on the level of a hobby because of it. He commended me on my understanding of Nara and Kyoto. He though I had a good grasp of what their cities meant and the balance between new and old, nature and man-made that they contained. That was another moment that tickled me pink.
Chris-san was wonderful to speak with and our topics varied. He's cute too. -_^ But either way I look forward to his email and who knows, I may end up making a dragon for him. Speaking of making, Dr. Ukifune asked that I make a Tiger for him as next year is the year of the tiger. I accepted and that's one of the things I'll be doing this year.
Everyone expressed disbelief that I had sought an English degree instead of an Art degree though. But the greatest compliment I recieved was their belief, which I was informed of multiple times, that I was a Master of my craft. That is quite simply th highest honor I could have ever had bestowed on me.
Today was quite simply awesome. I presented my Dragons to Dr. Ukifune-san and he and his compatriots loved them. He's taking them back to Japan with him and has decided that he wants to make a plaque and put them on public display. They were quite surprised I had pursued a english degree instead of an art degree. I was informed by the ones who spoke with me that they consider theman exquisite piece of craftsmanship and believe I have proved to be a master in my craft. Also, Dr. Ukifune gave me permission to name the oriental breed I created the Jikeinian after the Jikei prganization that he began and contiues to act as the head of. Dr. Ukifune-san asked that I make a Tiger for next year. I decided to take up the challenge (I've never done one before.). It was a whirlwind of meeting and speaking with amazing people.Today was one of those days I'll forever look back on fondly and sometimes with happy tears. It was just that good.
***
Ok. So I go there and I'm all jittery and nervous. What? I was presenting something I'd made and personally loved to the head of an entire corporation that spans Japan and also has international ties throughout the world. I thought he'd like it, but it wasn't a guarantee. He loved it by the way, which again, considering he'd kept the broken pieces of the first one in his office ever since I'd sent it, I don't know why I was so worried. When my name was called and I stood up, the members of his delegates/party who'd been there the last time I did this knew what was happening and their exclamations translated from "subarashi" which means "That is awesome" or something similar was gratifying. And then Dr. Ukifune saw them and realized they were his. He loved them. Literally. Really. And I was so glad I forgot to say anything I'd planned. So instead I said I'd learned a lot from the ones that had broken and I had done my best to make sure these wouldn't. So I went back to my seat.
A few minutes laterone of the translators came over and lead me back up front for pictures and discussion. Hirata-san remembered my grandmother and I told him she was there as well, so then there were introductions between everyone and the rest of my family. I finally got to discuss the dragons with Dr. Ukifune and it was just awesome. He intends to put them on public display with a plaque. So, I'm pretty much still giddy. He took my business card and it was just awesome. He had brought gifts for everyone as well. Some absolutely gorgeous books of art. One was done by Jikei students. Eventually he drifted off and I ended up speaking with Chris Fukuma who heads the western division of Jikei in the US from Los Angelos. Chris-san eventually helped me ask another question, which was could I name the oriental dragon after Dr. Ukifune's organization and I was given permission with a resounding "yes!".
I had intended to only be there until 1 or so, but I ended up staying until they left. I spent that time speaking with one representative or another interspersed with moments of speaking with Chris. Iwahara-san was one such representative and I learned that his name actually means "Man of the dragon" since he was born in the year of the Dragon. Isn't that awesome? I thought so. I also spoke with Hirata-san who is second in charge after Dr. Ukifune. We spoke about my trip to Japan and would I ever want to go back. I said yes of course! He also asked about my academic accomplishments. And over hear sometimes I get this startled look, like "don't you have enough degrees" and he was rather matter of fact about it as if having multiple degrees was simply the way of things and only to be expected. I answered his questions about what type of job I'd like to do in the future. I explained the multiple areas I'm looking for a job in and that while I would love to do my ceramics for a living, I know that is a dream and so I seek a job that will allow me to have both, even if my dragons are only on the level of a hobby because of it. He commended me on my understanding of Nara and Kyoto. He though I had a good grasp of what their cities meant and the balance between new and old, nature and man-made that they contained. That was another moment that tickled me pink.
Chris-san was wonderful to speak with and our topics varied. He's cute too. -_^ But either way I look forward to his email and who knows, I may end up making a dragon for him. Speaking of making, Dr. Ukifune asked that I make a Tiger for him as next year is the year of the tiger. I accepted and that's one of the things I'll be doing this year.
Everyone expressed disbelief that I had sought an English degree instead of an Art degree though. But the greatest compliment I recieved was their belief, which I was informed of multiple times, that I was a Master of my craft. That is quite simply th highest honor I could have ever had bestowed on me.