One of 30 Copies Signed by the Author

SHIRASU, Masako 白洲正子.

Saigyō 西行 [The Life of Saigyō].

One inserted leaf with author’s signature, one frontis. by Hayakawa Ikutada 早川幾忠 with his seal, two leaves with color images on each side, illus. in the text. 1 p.l., 254 pp., [5] pp. 8vo, orig. leather-backed linen over boards, spine & upper cover stamped in gilt, t.e.g. [Japan]: Privately Printed for the Author, [1988].

First limited edition, this is one of the 30 deluxe copies specially bound and signed by the author. The book was also commercially published by Shinchōsha in the same year.

Shirasu (1910-98), a member of an aristocratic family, studied Noh theater from an early age and at 14 became the first known woman to perform a Noh play. During her later teenage years, she attended a private school in New Jersey. As an adult, she became a prominent collector of Japanese ceramics and antiques and is credited with first recognizing the genius of clothing designer Issey Miyake when he was beginning his career.

Saigyō was first serialized in the magazine Geijutsu Shinchō. It traces the life of Saigyō (1118-90), warrior turned Buddhist monk and waka poet, in his travels through Japan, using his own poetry with interpretations by Shirasu, who travelled the same route while writing this book.

Very fine copy, with the original slipcase.

Price: $1,500.00

Item ID: 11520