The above image shows the layout of Koryuen’s opening page for the last 20 years.
Dear visitors,
I hope you are safe and well in these difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic. In spite of the challenging situation, I have a happy announcement to make.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of my netsuke website Koryuen! I am pleasantly surprised that I have come this far. I am very grateful to all of you for visiting the site and providing valuable information for it. Thank you so much!
In celebration, I am making two major improvements to Koryuen.
The first is to move the site from the old URL (cc.rim.or.jp/~komada) to this new URL (koryuen-jp.com). The main purpose is to refurbish the site and to make it profitable (if at all possible).
Ever since I set up the old site in 2000, I have run it on the lines of being informal. I felt a bit uncomfortable making money by posting information on Koryuen. However, I came to the conclusion that, if the site could make a profit, I would be able to use it for the benefit of the site. What I have in mind includes putting ads (sponsored links) on the site. Viewing and having basic information posted on Koryuen, such as events, books, etc., will be free of charge as before.
The second improvement is to supplement the site by adding new contents, while also maintaining fundamental principles. Since the very outset of Koryuen, I have paid the utmost attention to disseminating reliable information for general interest regarding netsuke and related objects. I will continue to do so, particularly with information on exhibitions, events, and publications.
In addition, I have set up a new section “Koryuen’s backyard,” where I will share my experience and thoughts on various topics. Belonging to a family of a netsuke artist and being a translator and writer in the field of arts and crafts, I have many fascinating anecdotes that are just too good to keep for myself! I will also write about things that I find interesting. It will be like chatting over a cup of coffee in the backyard. I will also add my own comments in other sections.
This new site is more like a blog, which is very different from the old one, and I’ve been building it up through trial and error. I hope you like the new site.
I’m sorry if you have visited this site before September 2020 when it was still under construction. Although I was trying to finish everything and launch this new site in May 2019, I couldn’t finish until now because of a busy work schedule and ill health. Below are new links to the two books that were previously posted, while the posts on an exhibition in 2019 have been deleted:
http://koryuen-jp.com/j-publications/j-tadamine2019/
http://koryuen-jp.com/j-publications/j-bishu2019/
I hope the coronavirus subsides soon. In the meantime, I’ll add new posts and features to the site. Hope you’ll enjoy the new Koryuen!
Komada Makiko
September 9, 2020
