My report of Paris, 28th of October 2006
or
Meeting as strangers, parting as friends
Oh well, I'd better start at the beginning:
On Saturday, the 28th of October, I arrived at Paris Orly early in the morning (09:50) and took a bus to Denfert Rochereau (my thanks go to Fanfan for providing me with vital information beforehand; everything went really smooth
). I was so early in fact and the morning was so pleasant, that I decided to walk the roughly 1.5 km to the Arkham comic shop to check out the signing procedure there. It was about 11:15 when I found it and Philippe (or was it Philippe? I don't remember...) gave me a ticket for the signing queue.
Since I had plenty of time until Sensei would show up, I took another walk to have a look at Notre-Dame and had a quiet meal
in a sushi restaurant. After that, I found I was well enough prepared for meeting Stan Sakai.
The first thing I noticed when I came back to Arkham was that there were considerably more people in there, waiting in line to have their books signed. I still don't know how he did it, but Fanfan identified me as a German before I could introduce myself (although I didn't wear my Lederhose...
)...oh well....
When it was my turn (I fortunately had a very low number on my ticket), I was so nervous about being able to shake hands with and talk to Stan Sakai, that I almost forgot about the poster Stan had promised to bring along; I was so pleased to have a sketch in my Art of Usagi book (and another one for my daughter in "Fathers and Sons"), I was so stunned about the effortlessness with which Stan made all the sketches (and I tell you, he did a lot of them: I was surprised to see that he didn't only sign but
actually made a sketch in every book he was gi-ven; some people had him sign three or more books, some had special requests....and Stan took his time to have a talk with everybody....Amazing
), I almost forgot I had a camera to take some photos;
Do not be alarmed, I remembered and I did take a lot of pictures and some small films as well. While Stan was signing and sketching, radiating such amiability, that it would have been hard to imagine someone who could not like him, I had some little talks to Philippe (or Philippe?? I keep mistaking them...).
They have a nice little shop specialised in American comics only, which is a very small niché in France. I did in fact notice two really huge comic shops on my way to Notre-Dame, both of them selling everything from the wi-de spectrum of the Franco-Belgian comic scene (and I mean everything; one of those shops had a whole depart-ment the size of an average comic shop reserved for merchandicing only). So they have a nicely stocked comic venture to provide French comic fans with what they would otherwise miss out completely, what with the prevalence of Franco-Belgian comics...
I think one reason for the surly expression on Philippe's face could be that he spent the whole day at the cash desk and would have liked to have fun with Stan Sakai and the fans....it was a very long day for everybody to be sure, especially for Sensei, who had to shake off a cramp in his hand more than once after four hours of uninter-rupted signing.
Nevertheless, he still kept it up uncomplainingly, and when Cosmo finally arrived (he had been wandering seemingly at random through the streets of Paris due to a slight blunder and considerable misinformation
, but eventually found a shabby internet café, which helped him find Arkham at last), he signed Cosmo's books as well to make up for his (Cosmo's) exhausting wanderings. I think everybody was very pleased about that event, in deed, and so we all took a little breath to leaf through Arkham's range of comics.
But the day was not over yet: Fanfan, his girlfriend Morgaine, Cosmo, Sensei, and I took a walk (another one!) to the Manga Cafè where Stan was invited to have still another signing date! We talked a lot (Cosmo, don't be overmodest, your English was very good)
, seen some interesting places (Thanks again to Fanfan and Cosmo for this little guided tour; very absorbing
), and safely came to the Manga Cafè, where more than two hands full of people waited for Sensei.
Fanfan explained to me, that Usagi Yojimbo is published in Manga format (in reference to the size) in France to attract more and different customers, and I think it works quite well; while there was the typical bunch of mid-aged comic nerds (including me
) at Arkham's, you had a totally different crowd at the Mange Cafè; some were younger, some were gentrified (no offence meant; but you wouldn't expect some of them to be comic enthusiasts), but all where friendly and patiently waiting with their books (some with their whole collection, it seemed).
It was about 19:30 when we arrived at the Manga Café and Stan did another two hours of signing there, taking his time for everybody, answering occasional questions, thus showing what an unbelievably friendly man he is. Fanfan, Morgaine and Cosmo had to leave then, but my flight back was not due until 07:00 on Sunday, so I had time to sit and watch, take some more photos, and just generally to hang around, relaxing and taking in the locality.
Shortly before the end of that signing date ("Just one more customer, please.....Oh, there is another one, but that will be the last....Oh,ehm, there is another one...ehm, could you please? [and Stan did, of cource]...Ehm, eh, there are another two.....they are the last, really, I promise!"), Stan seemed to be pleasantly surprised I was still around; he thought I had left with the others. Sensei did a great and big sketch on one of the walls of the Manga Café, filmed by both Manga Café staff and me. Even more photos were taken...
Then the owners of the Manga Café offered to invite Stan for a dinner. I'm still so delightedly shocked about that little scene that I will describe it in more detail:
Owner: "After you have finished [with the painting], we would like to invite you for a dinner at a nearby restaurant. Would you prefer French cuisine or do you want something Asian?"
Stan:" Ah, French, of cource! [slight pause, then, with a gesture in my direction:] Can my friend Thomas come there, too? That is, [turning to me] if it's ok for you ??
What could I say: still shaken about
Sensei calling me his friend, I think I mumbled something like "It would be my honor..." and hardly heard the owner agree to Sensei's request.
So we took off to a nice restaurant just on the other side of the street. We (that is the owner's wife, her oldest son and her youngest daugther, Stan and I) were lucky to get a suitable table and soon we were engaged in a warm and informational conversation.
The little girl soon gathered her courage to ask Sensei some questions she didn't dare speak out earlier: she asked if Stan did any other comics besides Usagi, so he used the table paper to show her rather than just tell.
During and after the meal (which was delicious!) he did another beautiful sketch on a second table paper, especially for the girl it seemed; even if I would have wanted it, the expresion on her face when she held it close made it absolutely clear that she would have fought for it (and it would have been heartless to even try to make her part with it...).
After a while, everybody was pleased and well fed, but a little tired as well. The Manga Café owners offered to take Sensei back to his hotel to insure his safe return (it was not dangerous on the streets at night, mind you; they didn't want him to get lost) and even organized some customers who kindly offered to take me to Orly airport! I was overwhelmed by so much friendliness; it meant I could get a shower and almost five hours of sleep at a hotel in the vicinity of the airport.
You see, I joint this dojo only a month ago, wondering if ever I could have the chance to see Stan Sakai personally, and whooosh, everything happened so fast: I meet him, had my books signed, talked to him, shoke hands with him, had dinner with him.... What a day!!!
My thanks to everybody who made this possible (named here or not), and my special thanks to Arkham's staff, Fanfan, Cosmo, and Manga Café's staff (in no particular order) for this most remarkable event. It's been a privilege and a pleasure to meet all of you.
Sensei, I can hardly express my emotions; I loved your comics and still do, but now I'm one of the growing number of people who
admire you for being the nicest man in comics.
Domo origato
P.S.: I have a lot of pictures to include with the text, but I don't know how yet; I'll post a link as soon as it's available
