Tasha Tuesday: Japanese Tasha Book

  Hello there my friends, and look what we have here! A new “Tasha Tuesday” to enjoy! Tasha Tudor has been such an inspiration to me ever since I stumbled upon The Private World of Tasha Tudor in a discount bin at Borders. The cover had been ripped, and the book was discounted. I picked it up, and fell in love. Like most great loves in my life it was hard and fast. And she continues to inspire me with her beautiful art, amazing talents and unique vision of following (as Thoreau says) “the direction of her dreams.”

   A few weeks ago I discovered that a centennial celebration of Tasha’s life (she would have been 100 this coming August) was going on at the Tasha Tudor Mini Museum in Japan and was inspired to look for a book about Tasha in Japanese.
   Because yes! The Japanese love Tasha Tudor. Her old fashioned life, the beauty she created with her home, garden and illustration, her unique vision of a life lived on her own terms— these values don’t just speak to Americans, but to others around the world. 
   The Japanese have such an appreciation for beauty and arm and well lived life, that they are also drawn to Tasha. And since I love the natural Japanese aesthetic and Tasha Tudor, well, the combination was too much to pass up! And so when I saw this book on Amazon, I had to buy it and see for myself how Tasha translates in Japanese. 
   And though I can’t read the text, the lovely photos, the simple and beautiful layout and the thoughtfully arranged art and words I am very happy with this new addition to my Tasha library, and thought you might enjoy a little glimpse as well!

   The book was lovingly put together by Hayao Isuhara who, along with Masako Meshino, opened up the Tasha Tudor Mini Museum in Yamanashi, Japan. If you’d like to find out more about the mini museum, you can visit their website, here. The Tasha Tudor and Family Facebook page also shared several photos of the opening of the centennial celebration if you’d like to see the photos and texts in English. The photos in the book are by Richard Brown. There are also some illustrations of Tasha’s that I dont recall seeing before.

   Luckily, a friend’s uncle has lived in Japan for many years and he was able to translate the cover for our benefit. According to Uncle Jack (thanks, Uncle Jack!!) The cover says:
” Words from Tasha Tudor Special Edition-
Enjoy that you are living yourself. I don’t care how old I look to other people. I can live my life in my dignified manner even though I am 90 years old. If I do what I can do now. This is the special book artist Tasha wrote about her own sense of values.”



   As for me, I think it’s so wonderful that people across the world from each other can come together in shared interests, all combined in the fascinating person that was Tasha Tudor. I’d love to see a future collaboration where Japanese books and English language books can be translated both ways, and perhaps we fans can unite in out interests as well. Because even though the sun goes down here in the US, and the sun is already up on Wednesday in Japan, there are Tasha fans in both places….perhaps sitting down with a cup of hot tea, curling up with a good book, and getting ready to “Take Joy.”

Thanks for joining me for Tasha Tuesday, friends!~
~H

13 thoughts on “Tasha Tuesday: Japanese Tasha Book

  1. A lovely post, Heather. I love what you had to say about Tasha and her way of life and why we all love her all over the world. I haven't seen those illustrations elsewhere either and wonder if they might be by an artist \”copying\” Tasha's style–especially the second one. Were there illustrations in the book that you know to be hers?

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  2. Thank you, thank you, Heather! I have my own little volume and Love that \”Uncle Jack\” did some translating for you (and us). What a beautiful quote from Tasha~ Thank you Heather and Uncle Jack~now for a nice cup of tea in front of a cozy fire and my very own little Tasha book~

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  3. Hi cathy— as far as I've been able to glean, this book was created in partnership with the Tudor family and both the illustrations are signed \”T. Tudor\” so they appear to be all Tasha's paintings. There are other paintings in it as well that I've seen before.

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  4. Hi Heather from Avignon where we are on a Thursday morning. Although I missed Tasha on Tuesday, I am excited to learn about your new book on Thursday! It does not surprise me that the Japanese would be drawn to Tahsa's love of gardens and simple lifestyle. Thanks for sharing a few photos!

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  5. It looks like a beautiful little book. I think a collaboration with the American and Japanese Tasha Tudor fans would be wonderful and mutually beneficial. The mini museum looks lovely. And, Uncle Jack says \”you are welcome!\” 🙂

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  6. Oh yes the Japanese love things like Tasha Tudor! They love Beatrix Potter, Anne of Green Gables, Little House.. they have delightfully good taste. I think they are attracted to the idea of a simple rural life, and they seem to like everything old fashioned and English-style. What a beautiful find!

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