Tokyo, 1954, first edition. 217 + 17 pp, b/w photos. Introduction in English, 100's of photos, maps, fold outs. Hardcover, no DJ, Near Fine.
This is a large and heavy book so extra postage will be requested for Priority as well as International Mail.
This book includes accounts of the 1952 and 1953 Japanese Manaslu expeditions. It was amazing how many expeditions were made to the 8000m peaks right after WWII. Most amazing is how the Japanese were able to mount several well equipped and organized attempts in early 1950s.
The Japanese had an attachment to climbing Manaslu in the 1950s similar to Britain's obession with Everest and America's with K2 (which was also coveted by the Italians.) They did several books on Manaslu, the most important of which is this one on the attempts to climb it in 1952 and 1953, and then again in 1954 and 1956, which was finally successful.
1953 A 15-member Japanese Alpine Club party, led by Yukio Mita, made the first attempt to the NE Face in spring. BC was established on April 12 on the left bank of the Manaslu Glacier at 3850m. On June 1, after making nine camps, Kiichiro Kato, Jiro Yamada and Shojiro Ishizaka made the summit bid but retreated at the highest point of 7750 m.
