Today, I received a letter from Walther König.
When I opened it, I found a note from Mr. Walther König himself—the founder—saying, “Thank you for your devoted efforts in introducing our publications.”
Mr. König is a pivotal figure in the art world, someone who has helped shape contemporary art through books.
Ever since the days when I dealt exclusively in used books, his publishing house has been one I deeply admired.
I still remember visiting their bookstore division in Cologne for the first time around ten years ago—being moved by their lineup, yet thinking, “I run a small bookshop in Japan… there’s no way they’d start doing business with me if I said something out of the blue,” and quietly walking away.
Never did I imagine that one day I would receive a personal message from him.
It was an unforgettable and truly heartwarming moment.
今日、Walther Königから一通の郵便。
開封してみると、「私たちの出版社の本を、献身的に紹介してくれてありがとう。」という、設立者のWalther König氏からの手紙でした。
König氏は本を通じて現代美術を牽引してきたアート界の立役者。
古書だけを扱っていた頃からあこがれている出版社で、初めてケルンの書店部門を訪ねて、本のラインナップに感動しながらも「日本で本屋をやっていて...なんて急に言っても取引してもらえないだろうなぁ」と、すごすごと帰ってきたのが10年前。ご本人からメッセージをもらえるなんて想像もしてなかったので、とても嬉しいできごとでした。