She was absolutely correct. My youthful goals of making a million dollars by age thirty turned out to be a pipe dream; and my lifelong experiences at Aiko's Art Materials have made a lot of people happy, chiefly me. I have been very fortunate to be able to meet, collaborate, and befriend the most talented, generous, and loyal clients one could ever imagine. Actually, it turns out that Mrs. Nakane was right about most things, which is why the business she founded some fifty years ago continues to this day. Aiko Nakane had many wonderful qualities. She could be charming, patient, determined, and visionary, all without blinking. She could also be direct and critical which sometimes caused difficulties. I didn't mind her directness because I always knew where she stood on issues. I loved her inquisitiveness. She would ask me questions about anything - baseball, restaurants, the stock market (as if I knew), architecture, growing up as a sansei (third generation Japanese-American). Her curiosity covered the most diverse subjects and it never ceased, even into her mid-nineties. Yet the characteristic I recall most was her strength. She was probably no more than ninety pounds, even after eating a slice of Chicago-style pizza, but her physical strength was amazing. Her tiny hands had a viselike grip which she exhibited when hand making baren (a Japanese block printing tool). She could chop up old crates and boxes with the efficiency of a butcher carving a side of beef then she would cord them up and cart the bundles to the garbage. Her mental and emotional fortitude were stunning. I was with her the day her son suddenly passed away, and she determinedly came to work because of an appointment that she felt was not to be missed. One time she limped to a cab after falling and breaking her hip during a gusty Chicago afternoon. Another time she fell down a flight of stairs, breaking some ribs then fighting with me tooth and nail about not getting medical attention. I finally prevailed on that one, twenty-four hours later! I believe that Mrs. Nakane was really an introvert. Undeniably she was comfortable in social situations, but I could tell she enjoyed her private moments. On Sundays you could find her working happily in her cherished garden. If the weather was inclement, she would be cooking and baking some outstanding meal (in small portions, of course) with classical music blaring from her stereo. She was an accomplished pianist and an outstanding Japanese brush calligrapher. Before she opened Aiko's she had been a teacher, a restaurant owner, a missionary, an art restorer, and quite a good home repairwoman. These skills she acquired long before her husband passed away in 1978. She would laugh and confide, "a fine man, but not particularly good with a hammer." The past two years were very difficult. In August of 2002 I decided that Mrs. Nakane could no longer live by herself in her cavernous home of fifty years. Advancing Alzheimer's disease, increasing aches and pains, and perceptible changes in routine robbed her of the ability to live on her own. Oh, she fought and struggled to remain independent. Through November of 2003, I still brought Aiko to her beloved store where she felt comfort and a sense of usefulness. The staff accorded her the utmost respect and attention for which I knew she was grateful. In December a serious fall at home set off a long chain of events that ultimately led to her passing on May 19, 2004. Even in the final few weeks of her life, when it was evident to me that she would not last much longer, I don't believe Aiko Nakane thought about life and death. To the end I think she believed she would go on forever, and now free of her physical constraints, perhaps she will. Japanese katazome paper. One of Aiko's favorites, this traditional Japanese decorated paper—sometimes referred to as Yatsuo mingei paper—comes from the Keijusha Mill in Toyama Prefecture. The paper is handmade, 100% kozo (paper mulberry bast fiber). The full sheet size is 25 x 38 inches. The paper dyer applies a paste resist using cut-paper stencils, paints the open areas of the paper with liquid dye using a pochoir technique, then rinses the paper to remove the resist. Paper graciously donated to Hand Papermaking by Aiko's Art Materials, 3347 North Clark Street in Chicago. Their website address is aikosart.com.
