In 2004 I was working on an article about two Picasso exhibitions happening in Tokyo at the same time. I decided to email a few questions to Masaru Igarashi, the chief curator of one of the museums involved, Sompo Japan. Mr Igarashi kindly responded, although possibly a little late, as I did not use any quotes from him in my article. Publishing his comments here, 18 years after the event, thus presents me with a chance to right this historic wrong.