Question for Stan about 2004 calenders

[Steve Hubbell]

Kon nichi wa,
I just received the new (April) Diamond Preview catalog which lists the 2004 calenders including the Usagi Yojimbo calender from Tidemark... I was just curious if you were aware of any of Tidemarks other calenders being produced for 2004, in particular, the one featuring/concerning Japanese festivals? I forget who is credited for it. Was there any connection between it and your intentions of listing information concerning festivals and holidays on the new Usagi calender or is it something that came up independently from somewhere else? Are you still planning on listing that type of info on the Usagi calender? I noticed that both calenders are listed as being in English and Japanese which sounds cool...
Abayo,
Steve

[Stan Sakai]

I was unaware of Tide Mark's Japanese festivals calendar until you mentioned it. I do have their catalog, but never had the time to look through it. I believe though, that the consultant used for the festivals calendar also had a hand in editing the Usagi calendar. There were a few festivals that were dropped from the Usagi one as being too regional. One celebration dropped is the Tanabata Festival which was one of the seven major Japanese festivals. It's just not celebrated as much anymore, and the dates to the celebration is in debate whether it should fall on July 7 or August 8.

[Steve Hubbell]

Just a note... Somebody Tanaka is credited as illustrator for the Japanese Festivals calendar, which is readable in the picture of the cover of the calendar. Ok, I know I should have written the name down... No info is given as to what festivals are listed in it or how the info is pesented.
Abayo,
Steve

[digulla]

One celebration dropped is the Tanabata Festival which was one of the seven major Japanese festivals. It's just not celebrated as much anymore, and the dates to the celebration is in debate whether it should fall on July 7 or August 8.

Well, shouldn't the Usagi callendar show festivals which were important in Usagis time?