Above The Desk This Week

Last week I received this gorgeous Japanese card (thank you!). Pull the tabs on the sides, and it opens up to reveal 4 further layers, a noh-style tableau: fingernail-moon against a black sky; the first character perched on a bridge--the fan (s)he holds suspended in mid-air, the second character in battle stance against the trees, weapons gleaming; ornate rolling waves (unfortunately I can't photograph it, and it doesn’t scan nicely when the card is opened up). It is spot-printed in 4 colors—black, red, green and gold. For days I obsessed over this gorgeous piece (only 4.5 x 6 inches), amazed at the precision with which it was produced. Not a misregistered point anywhere, no color overlaps or runs. Die-cuts everywhere and assembled with hairline exactness. In tiny gold-ink letters at the back of the card, “Designed by K. Takayama, Printed in Japan”.

God grant me focus and a passion for detail.