We caught the wily trader after hours. Upon introducing him to some sake, we got an inside look into the workings of his treasure house.

Imperial Herald: It appears that business is going well for you. To what do you attribute your success?
Yasuki Taka: The economy. Koku abounds in Rokugan these days. There has been a marked increase in tournaments sanctioned this year over those past. At an average of 200 Koku awarded at each one, well, you can see the inflationary spiral. Then there's the success of the last three expansions, each selling out in mere weeks, and all of the Koku that represents.

IH: With all of this demand, how are your supplies holding up?
YT As usual. The exotic wares from the Burning Sands, however, move off the shelves very quickly. Kolat Recruiters were in high demand the last few months; I even had one person request thirty-six of them! I had to choose between upsetting one person and upsetting thirty-five, so I instated the "one card per customer" policy for the first month a card is on the shelf.

IH: What is up with the katanas?
YT The last issue covered this. We had trouble getting the katanas past some border guards and things, and I really wanted a sword to be something special, so I decided to make them exclusive as tournament prizes.

IH: Why do people have to pay shipping costs for everything but cards?
YT The reason is simple: it's less work for everyone, and I can deliver the cards more quickly this way. Writing down an order and filling it while keeping track of a return envelope and card protection was more time-consuming and costly than providing the shipping materials myself. I still require payment for shipping other items, both to cover freight costs and, in part, to recover a portion of the cost of the item itself. Because of this, I cannot offer discounts on shipping for bulk orders; it's cumulative.

IH: What new wares can readers expect from your treasure house in the future?
YT I really hate to say, as I'm still working on securing them. The newest items, of course, are the shinomono (war banners). The "possibility" list includes Mandarin-collared denim shirts, chops, jewelry, license-plate holders, and such.

IH: How does it feel to hold thousands of Koku at once?
YT. Horrible, actually. Unless it's well organized, that is. I really prefer to get Koku in bundles of twenty booster packs tied off with rubber bands, rather than loose. And that way, you don't have to sit there and cut all of the Koku out to glue to index cards! Now, you do need to cut out the deck boxes, and if you organize them in rows on paper, it sure does make my life easier. On occasion, I've had to return Koku sent loose in cut-out little mylar squares--totally uncountable.

IH: Why are you offering Imperial Assembly members such great bonuses lately?
YT. Politics. Pure and simple politics. Assembly members scratch my back, so I do the same in return. And who's to say they don't deserve it?

IH: Is there any truth to the rumor that you are a Kolat?
YT. What's a Kolat?

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