[Andō] Hiroshige 広重東海道五十三次 = The fifty-three stages of the Tokaido.

By Ichitaro Kondo.
English adaptation by Charles S. Terry.
Text in English and Japanese.

Tokyo, Heibonsha, [1960].
Oblong octavo (21x30 cm), [2], 11, [112] pp., ill.

In original binding (brick-colored cloth) and slipcase. With errata leaf. Signed to the title page in Russian ('Akira Kurosawa') and Japanese ('黒澤 明').
In good condition, lightly rubbed slipcase.

Kurosawa's signatures are rare, especially in Cyrillic.

The book about Hiroshige's series of woodblock prints was signed to the Soviet cinematographer Yuri Gantman (1932-1987). He and Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998) collaborated on the 1975 Soviet-Japanese film 'Dersu Uzala', which is notably Kurosawa's only non-Japanese-language film. 'Dersu Uzala' achieved a remarkable feat by winning the 1976 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
It is widely acknowledged that 'Dersu Uzala' played a pivotal role in rescuing Kurosawa's career following the commercial failure of his independent feature 'Dodes’ka-den' (1970). To finance the film, Kurosawa had to mortgage his house, but unfortunately, it did not perform well at the box office, leaving him burdened with substantial debts. At the age of sixty-one, he faced dim employment prospects and fell into a severe depression, which even led to a suicide attempt. 'Dersu Uzala' was a testament to Kurosawa's unwavering determination, as he was involved in every aspect of the film, from its conception to the casting.

Provenance: From the collection of Yuri Gantman.