Norman H. Tolman, left diplomatic life in 1972 to open a gallery for the foreign community of Tokyo. At the highest level, Ginza’s famous Wako store, he arranged an unprecedented exhibition for 60 of Japan’s finest artists. Quickly following, at the historic Zojo-ji Temple, he showed Toko Shinoda, at her prime; it drew 500 of the hoped for foreigners who quickly grew accustomed to the level of contemporary Japanese art being introduced at The Tolman Collection which became “the venue” to see the finest contemporary prints. The gallery’s reputation for works made especially for The Collection have been sought after for nearly 50 years