YouTube

November 18, 2025November 18, 2025

What to do with the Genji Project

This is something I’ve been wondering about, contemplating, for quite a while. Now that I’m halfway through I think it’s prudent to make a plan for the end. How do I break down a multi-year project into a 5 minute video presentation? Yes, that’s my intention. I want to either display or enter this project in Kingdom A&S Champs when it’s done in 2028. Not sure which. It may be bad form to try for the position again, and I should just display. I’ll seek advice on that when the time comes.

Obviously it gets entered as a research project. As my notes are physical, those notepads can be presented. I’ll want to have examples to show for each of the side projects it spurs. The first side project was Waka Wednesdays which will continue as its own series on my YouTube channel long after Genji is done. There will be garments to show off, possibly the plain white uwagi, a summer (white sheer) hitoe, and definitely the whole kobai project. I suppose I now have a deadline to finish that. For all of it really. I can include a syllabus/handout for the classes that come out of it; those are still in the development stage. What else … I started making a poetic reference document way back in the beginning but quickly discovered I was duplicating well established work that is already widely available. I’m not sure that I’ll do more with it. I’m considering going back through my costume reference notes and making a look book or something similar to make that research more consumable. Currently that’s just spread out through all of the chapter videos. Ooh, I think that means I’ll need to do a number of illustrations. Oh, and probably a fan or two. And let’s be honest, there’s bound to be something else by then.

Let’s see. Start the video with what inspired the project. Describe the project. Discuss the side projects created by embracing scope creep. Talk about the results, what I learned and next steps. That seems like a good outline.

I may be getting ahead of myself. But these side projects require more planning and more time, so I’m trying to get ahead of the inevitable crunch come January of 2028. The look book especially will take a tremendous amount of work. If I space everything out, I might just be able to finish it all. Maybe. I have a tendency to spread myself too thin.

a garden gently tended through the seasons will bloom ever brighter
when spring comes around again diligent steady work shines

For now, back to the main project. There’s quite a bit left to do and time is short.

October 26, 2025October 27, 2025

Halfway There!

I am thrilled. Thrilled! My Genji Project has officially hit the halfway point. The last Waka Wednesday video for chapter 27 was uploaded today. I have weekly content scheduled through the very end of the year!

This last batch of videos was quite a few at one time. I edited 14 videos over the past few weeks, with the bulk (10) the past 2 days while I’ve been ill. And it’s done. I’m practically giddy about it.

There is still quite a bit of work to go. At the current rate, the last video for chapter 54 will air in January of 2031. 5 years is a lot. If I don’t skip the Wednesday of chapter weeks, I can bring that down to 4 years, and I like that much more. 2030 sounds great, and it would be nice to finish the video series out for my 50th birthday. Let’s aim for that. I’ll institute the new schedule in January.

I currently have a 10 week cushion and I intend to keep that and build upon it. So long as I average one chapter every 3 weeks I’ll stay ahead and increase my lead. Ok, thinking out loud. I’d finish the project a full year before the last video goes live at that rate. Nice. I can use some of that year for prepping the project for A&S Champs the following year and the rest getting to work on the next video series. The Tales of Ise is my current thought for that. I have the Kokinshu and other books standing by for Waka Wednesdays if I decide to examine a piece of period literature with a distinct lack of poetry.

Ha. Dreaming out loud, more like.

Such joy to be found in reaching a milestone on this daunting journey
The sun’s proud rays break through and warm my path on a chill day

EDIT: I can’t math. ROTFL. 4 years would be the whole project, not the back half. For what’s left of the project, 2 years 1 week as of January 1st with the slightly sped up rate, finishing in January of 2028. At the 3 week per chapter research speed I’ll be done with the work in a year and 7 months, July of 2027. That sounds a whole lot better.

October 10, 2022October 10, 2022

So it’s been two weeks. The channel is growing and the Genji Project is taking up most of my free time. I’ve even added to my studio gear with a pair of soft box lights.

Keeping up with the channel is quite a bit of work. And I’m dreading part of it. Advertising. No, I’m no where close to monetizing the channel, that’s unlikely to ever happen. And I don’t mean posting to facebook about new videos, that’s easy. There’s another place. A perfect place.

I’m a member of a google group, Pre Modern Japanese Studies. Other YouTube channels have been shared to the group, so I know it would be ok to post there, these people are exactly the right audience. But I’m terrified. I’ve seen posts that Royall Tyler has commented on. ROYALL TYLER. Genji translator. My favorite Genji Translator. He’s in this group and might see what I’m doing. This group is full of serious academics, and I’m incredibly intimidated. I know I need to do it. And I will, but for another few minutes I’m just going to be scared about it.