Third edition, no.11 in a limited edition of 30 copies, signed. Colour woodblock prints with hand-coloured detail throughout. 205 by 275mm. Yamato-toji binding, original brown crinkled paper covered board with colour woodblock title slip, original green dust jacket with printed title slip, crease to front free end paper, a near fine copy. Unpaginated [18]pp. Osaka, Gohachi, 1955.
An unusual Kawakami title, which illustrates Japan's indigenous people, the Ainu.
In this book, Kawakami takes reader on a journey to Ezo – the old name for the northernmost part of Japan. Part of Ezo was later renamed to Hokkaido. He illustrates the Ainu people in traditional dress with facial tattoos, as well as their customs such as deer hunting. In the final page we see a group of small figures sitting under butterbur plants, which Kawakami describes as 'tiny deities they call korpokkur'. The Ainu language (Ainu itak) is also referenced in the title, which translates the 'the land of humans'.
The first edition was published in 1947, then reprinted in 1955 by the publishers Sapporo Seibansha. In the same year, the Osaka-based publisher Gohachi published a limited edition of 30, of which this is no.11. It is likely that he worked with Sapporo Seibansha due to the book's association with Hokkaido. Kawakami had a longstanding relationship with Gohachi, who were responsible for helping him rpublish high quality reprints of many of his books. The present copy is a lovely example of a Gohachi and Kawakami collaboration.
Rare. No copies in OCLC.
