Presentation to John Einarsen, Founding Editor, on the Occasion of KJ's 60th Issue
By Ken Rodgers, Managing Editor

As one of those foreigners who backpacked into Kyoto in the early ‘80s (and never left), I was lucky enough get hold of a worn-out Xerox copy – of a copy of a copy – of the anonymous “Underground Map” of Kyoto, which covered non-famous attractions like back-street galleries, best rock/jazz/classical kissaten, and memorably offbeat sentos.

Fast-forward a few years, and I was introduced to the editor of Kyoto Kaleidoscope magazine, John Einarsen, who was kind enough to print one of my poems — my first publication — and I discovered that it was John who had produced the map, as a limited edition. Already I owed part of what I knew of Kyoto to John’s wide-ranging curiosity, and enthusiasm for this city.

Now we have been working together on KJ for 60 issues, amazingly. That’s 19 years, and John is still showing us all the way. Without John, Kyoto Journal would not have come into being, but more importantly, it is primarily John’s openness and receptivity that has enabled KJ to develop, and to keep evolving. As we all know, it is such a great pleasure to work with John, because he has a wonderfully low-key but inspirational knack of drawing out the best of all kinds of people. Partly this is due to his leading by example — he puts his heart and soul into the design of the magazine, and just keeps on getting better — and in the same way he helps us to envisage taking the whole publication further.

As is most often the case, he could not do what he does alone. This presentation is actually to both John and Midori, in recognition of their wonderful positive-energy partnership, upon which rests this whole cross-cultural achievement of KJ, in creating not only a magazine, but a virtual community based on shared values.

So, John and Midori, we would like to give you this, as a memento for KJ #60. This hand-crafted glass bowl represents receptivity, beauty, function, clarity, sophisticated design, apparent fragility, and great strength.


While we are celebrating KJ’s 60th issue, we are also here to launch our special issue on Korea. Although we have produced a number of exceptional theme issues, including Media in Asia, guest edited by Stewart Wachs, and Asian Streets, guest edited by Sally Mclaren (with excellent graphic input from Markuz Wernli), this is the first time that we have attempted to profile an individual country.

We could not have done this properly without great assistance from our guest editor, Bob Fouser, and other people who gave their time and efforts – especially our poetry editor Pat Donegan, who did two interviews in Korea, to Brother Anthony of Taize, for his contributions as a writer, translator and interpreter, and to Bob Kowalczyk and Kim Myong-Hee, for their assistance and encouragement. And special thanks to Chung In-Kyung for her portrait of Ko Un!

Again, John Einarsen put in an exceptional effort towards realizing this issue, including three trips to Korea for interviews and gathering material, and the huge job of stitching together the pojagi of #60’s design.

But this magazine does not depend on just one person.

It depends on everyone who volunteers some part of their time and their own particular abilities and interests to making it what it is, and the best that it can be. A big kampai! and gunbe! -- and very sincere thanks to everyone, here and around the world, who are participants in the KJ community! Thank you all so very much for joining us.

Now, the speeches are over. Let's party....