Dear Yuichi:

Your letter of September 12th arrived two years ago. I hope to get this answer to it in the mail Monday. I also have to get two letters to Australia and several domestic (within the U.S.A.) ones finished by Monday.

The meeting with T/S must have been an interesting one for you. I think it must have also been a difficult one because there are so many questions to be answered and problems to be solved.

My letter of September 9th. explained my basic feelings about some of those problems. I will try to elaborate, or give additional thoughts, on those matters as I reply to each item in your letter.

1. I understand and appreciate T.S.'s desire to have a complete translation without any additional comments or insertions made by you. One of the major criticisms of Frank Fuji's book was the insertions made by the person who checked his manuscript for accuracy because it distracted from Frank's story Fujita was often asked-"Who wrote the book?" I agree with the publisher about the insertion of your comments at the end of the manuscript, if they are included. I would prefer that no comments or explanations be added, unless absolutely necessary.

2.Financing or first payment. This statement make me very uneasy ( afraid ) and create a number of questions in my mind.

A.Is it a normal or usual custom in Japan for an author to pay for (or buy) the first copies of his published manuscript? If so, then how are these copies sold? Does he receive the full price of the books as they are sold? Or does he receive only a percentage of the selling price of the book ( a royalty)?

B. Does the " first payment" mean there will be the need for the author to make additional payments later?

C. How is the author reimbursed (paid) for his work? How much is the author's share of the sale of each book?

My general or major feelings about having to make payments to have the manuscript published have been given in my letter of the 9th. I will say that I would share some of the costs with you, if I change my position (mind) about the financing.

3.Agreement or contract papers. I agree and realize that this matter would be a very difficult problem for both the publisher and for me. What is convenient for one would be difficult for the other. I would have to find an attorney (lawyer) who can read Japanese. This could be very expensive for me. I also agree that it would be better for both parties (the publisher and me) if the negotiations were made by the Japanese publishere and a publisher here. Since I have not yet heard anything from the publisher here, I will write him tomorrow and tell him about the situation.

4.Timing of publication.T.S.'s schedule for having the work completed seems very desirabel to me.　However, due to the many questions which need to be answered and the agreements which must be reached before publication, I doubt it can be achieved.

5.Translation. I am still hesitant about giving my official (legal) approval for the complete translation because I would not like to have you do all of that work and then have project (publication in Japan) cancelled for some reason. For your protection and to continue the translating, I will give you my unofficial (not binding) approval if you wish to continue the work. There will be no problems about the translating. Do not worry about this matter.

6. Delay. I do not want to unnecessarily delay the project. My primary concern is not to make committments for which we may later regret. I am being overly cautious.

Thank you for your remark about my manuscript being the best account about Omori. I agree with you . The name of the island is spelled differently on the various maps of the area. We should write it as it is given on the map in my manuscript-"Kairiru". (Kai ri ru). I am familiar with "Katakana".

I still do not know if or where I will be going next month as I have to much work to do now. I will wait until next week when I get the Air Force Schedule.

I believe I have covered each item in your letter.


Sincerely
Bob