AMA [SIGNED]
Heidelberg / Berlin: Kehrer Verlag, 2011. First edition. Hardcover. 1/800. Octavo. Unpaginated. Original boards, photo-illustrated in color with exposed spine as issued. Turquoise endpapers. Half-title and title page printed in turquoise. Initialed NP and dated 2011 on title page. Design by Sandra Krämer and Nina Poppe,The photographs were taken in Japan in 2010.
"A woman who cannot feed a man is worthless (Saying from the Ise-Shima region)" printed in English and Japanese on page following title page. Ama are women who make their living by diving for bablones, large edible sea snails.
"Everyone in Japan knows them as "Ama-San," a title that conveys a great deal of affection and admiration – and yet, even in the big cities, hardly anyone is aware of what these courageous and independent women of the seas are actually capable of. At an average age of 60, they make their living by hunting abalone, a delicacy prized particularly in East Asia. The AMA look like mature mermaids who, instead of enjoying their golden years in leisure, continue to dive regularly as far as 20 meters down into the depths. Since time immemorial, the image of man as hunter has been the epitome of masculinity. Which makes it all the more amusing that, based on the experience that men become chilled in the water faster, the hunt for abalone has traditionally been a woman's domain in Japan." (Publisher).
Profusely illustrated with color photographs throughout. A threefold foldout on thin turquoise paper with descriptive text as well as brief glossary in English and Japanese, including six pages with references and illustrations to other books on the subject at rear. Text in English and Japanese. Cover boards lightly rubbed, else in fine condition. Very good to fine condition. Item #51275
ISBN: 9783868282511
Price: $225.00