Japanese Proverb

Meaning

An artist from another generation lost in the modern world

Japanese Proverb

Meaning杉山

Japanese Proverb

Meaning

I grew up hearing stories about my grandfather. He was this mythological person who existed long before his own time. Saki Sugiyama was born a man of privilege and died an artist. He was the 21st generation of the Sugiyama family. He was very proud of his family legacy. He had many profession before he found his calling. He served in the Japanese Army when he was a young man. Proud to serve his country and emperor. He was a long distance runner and qualified to be in the olympics. He provided for his family by being an art teacher at the local grade school. After that he became a sculptor his final profession and the most rewarding in his mind.

My grandfather was a very brilliant man but never understood the concept of money. He worked as a grade school art teacher for decades. He only had to work one more month and he would have received a pension. No one knows why but he decided to quit a month before he received his pension. Whether he was bored with his job, wanted to pursue his own art or just did not like the job anymore. There would have been no explanation that would have satisfied my grandmother. She was livid when she found out. She had to figure a way to feed 4 children with no income coming in.

When he quit his job as a school teacher he decided to pursue his work as a sculptor. He did not have any money to buy wood for the kiln. So, he would wake my Uncle up in the middle of the night and they would go to the nearby junkyard and collect old tires. My eldest aunt still remembers the smell that the burning tires would make.

He did manage to trade some sculptors for services. For example, he made a sculptor for the local dentist office and in return his family would receive free dentistry. The only problem was that he never signed a contract. He was under the impression that they would receive free dentistry for the rest of there lives. But in reality each child got about one cleaning done each. My eldest aunt still remembers how the receptionist made sure that they were told this would be there last FREE check up. My aunt and grandmother were so embarrassed after that.

My grandfather had his faults and was not a perfect man. But he was talented and had a love of his heritage. His creative skills and his love of his heritage was past down to me. In some ways I am the most like him whether I like it or not. I honor him with this book of the picture that I believe show him at his best and liveliest. He was a man adrift. An artist from another generation lost in the modern world.

蛙Japanese Proverb

Meaning

“A frog in a well does not know the great sea.”

People are satisfied to judge things by their own narrow experience, never knowing of the wide world outside.

I no naka no kawazu taikai wo shirazu

Japanese Proverb

Meaning

This is one of the earliest pictures of S. Sugiyma. He is on he far left wearing a solid color kimono with some of his school friends.

軍Japanese Proverb

Meaning

“Let flow in the water.”

Forgive and forget; water under the bridge

Mizu ni nagasu

Japanese Proverb

Meaning

Sugiyama is pictured on the right with one of his buddies. He reminds so much of my Uncle and Cousin. The smile and mannerism are so like the two of them.

軍Japanese Proverb

Meaning

“Wake from death and return to life”

To come out of a desperate situation and make a complete return in one sudden burst.

Kaeru no ko wa kaeru

Japanese Proverb

Meaning

Sugiyama is on the right with one of his friends from the military.

軍Japanese Proverb

MeaningPeople are satisfied to judge things by their own narrow experience, never knowing of the wide world outside.

A frog in a well does not know the great sea.

I no naka no kawazu taikai wo shirazu

Japanese Proverb

Meaning

Sugiyama is pictured on the right. He seemed to always be pictured on the right. Maybe it was an OCD thing.

海Japanese Proverb

Meaning

“Ten men, ten colors.”

To each his or her own. Different strokes for different folks.

Junin toiro

Japanese Proverb

Meaning

Pretending to dive into the Sagami-nada Sea. This picture was taken at high tide. My uncle always laughs when he looked at this picture. Because if he were actually dive into the water he would seriously injure himself, since the water is only about 3 feet deep.

海Japanese Proverb

MeaningFall down seven times, get up eight times. An encouragement to persevere.

“Seven falls, eight getting up”

Nana korobi, ya oki

Japanese Proverb

Meaning

Walking along the coast of Sagami-nada Sea.

海Japanese Proverb

Meaning

“One who chases after two hares won't catch even one.”

Trying to do two things at once will make you fail in both.

Ni usagi wo ou mono wa ichi usagi wo mo ezu

Japanese Proverb

Meaning

I never thought that I inherited any features from my grandfather, besides the streak of grey hair fight in the front. But my Aunt advised me that I have his eyes. I am the only grandchild to get his eyes. Never before did I ever see that. Now looking at this photo again I can see it.

稲Japanese Proverb

Meaning

“Pulling water to my own rice paddy”

Doing/speaking about things in a way to benefit yourself.

Gaden insui

Japanese Proverb

Meaning

When I first saw these pictures I knew I had to copy them because the next Chinese New Years was year of the Goat and I wanted them to make New Year Cards. They were so well received I carried on the tradition every year.

実Japanese Proverb

Meaning

“Continuance is power and strength.”

Don’t give up. Just continuing to hold on will yield and reveal strength and power. Continuing on after a setback is its own kind of strength. Perseverance is power.

Keizoku wa chikara nari

Japanese Proverb

Meaning

Our family used to have a castle up here on top of the mountain. On the map at the train station our house that we live in now is called the ruins of Usami Castle.

実Japanese Proverb

Meaning

“Clear sky, cultivate, rainy, reading”

Farm when it’s sunny, read when it rains.

Seiko udoku

Japanese Proverb

Meaning

It is very rare that a Japanese male can grow a beard let alone have wavy hair. My grandfather had both.

実Japanese Proverb

Meaning

“If you do not enter the tiger’s cave, you will not catch its cub.”

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. You can’t do anything without risking something.

Koketsu ni irazunba koji wo ezu

Japanese Proverb

Meaning

The rumor is that my grandfather had these pictures for a publicity event. For whatever the reason these are just stunning photos of him.

はJapanese Proverb

Meaning

“Child of a frog is a frog.”

Like father, like son.

Kaeru no ko wa kaeru

Japanese Proverb

Meaning

My grandfather was commissioned to create a sculptor for the elementary school yard. The model he used for this sculpture was my uncle. When the school remodeled its grounds the school asked if he wanted the sculpture back. He declined to take it.

寺Japanese Proverb

Meaning

“An apprentice near a temple will recite the scriptures untaught.”

The environment makes our characters.

Mon zen no kozo narawanu kyo wo yomu

Japanese Proverb

Meaning

This is one of my favorite picture of him. It appears that he is looking off in the distance possibly contemplating life.

夢Japanese Proverb

Meaning

“Not seeing is a flower.”

Things will never be as you imagine, so you're better off not seeing them. Reality can't compete with imagination.

Minu ga hana

Japanese Proverb

Meaning

Overlooking the Sagami-nada Sea. The original Usami Castle would have been located here. Our house which is located at the bottom of this mountain is now called the ruins of Usami Castle.

弟Japanese Proverb

MeaningPerseverance is better than defeat.

“Stumbling seven times but recovering eight.”

Nanakorobi yaoki

Japanese Proverb

Meaning

The pinnacle of sugiyama’s career was when he was asked to sculpt Prince Takamatsu-No-Miya bust. He is shown here on the left and on the right is Prince Takamatsu-No-Miya who is the Showa Emperor’s younger brother.

Japanese Proverb

Meaning

S. Sugiyama had his faults and was not a perfect man. But he was talented and had a love of his heritage. His creative skills and his love of his heritage was past down to me. In some ways I am the most like him whether I like it or not. I honor him with this book of the picture that I believe show him at his best and liveliest. He was a man adrift. An artist from another generation lost in the modern world.