Help with Asian signature on photo of Rams

I liked the picture it goes with my homes decor but i am curious about the signature. I'm pretty sure it's Japanese but still can't read it, can anyone translate it for me?

 

Japanese, but don't ask me to read it, and I think that's a date with it.

 

I thought it said 12/79 numbered edition?

 

Numbered editions usually end with an even number unless it's a really small print run - like five. I'm more inclined to think it's a date; people were still shooting a lot of black and white back then. It's easier to handle in a noncommercial darkroom and frankly the film was better. It was also easier to get medium format film in B&W than it was color. And cheaper. I did a lot of it as a kid.