“2001: A Space Odyssey” (2001年宇宙の旅), Ultra‑Rare Original Japanese Magazine Insert Poster (Printed in 1968) (24.5 x 52.5 cm)

“2001: A Space Odyssey” (2001年宇宙の旅), Ultra‑Rare Original Japanese Boys’ Magazine Insert Poster (1968)
“Planetary Exploration Ship Discoverer” (惑星探検船ディスカバラー号) Illustrated Front + “Secrets of the Discoverer” (ディスカバラー号のひみつ) Technical Cutaway Reverse
Double‑Sided Poster, 525 × 245 mm

What this is

An original 1968 Japanese shōnen (boys’ magazine) bound‑in pin‑up created to accompany the Japanese release of Stanley Kubrick’s landmark science‑fiction film “2001: A Space Odyssey” (2001年宇宙の旅). Rather than a standard theatrical one‑sheet, this is a period magazine premium—printed for readership display, then typically discarded with the issue—making surviving examples in high grade markedly scarce.

The film opened in Japan in April 1968, placing this pin‑up firmly in the first‑release era of 2001 in Japan.

About the film

First released in 1968 and directed by Stanley Kubrick, 2001: A Space Odyssey reshaped science‑fiction cinema with its serious, design‑driven realism and near‑documentary approach to spaceflight—imagery that directly informs the technical tone of this Japanese pin‑up.

Poster design

This is a two‑sided display piece—one side cinematic and illustrative, the other side diagrammatic and “educational,” in the classic style of Japanese children’s SF pages of the late 1960s.

Front: “惑星探検船ディスカバラー号 / 無限の宇宙へ大発進”

A dramatic panoramic tableau: a long‑spined exploration vessel cuts across a black, star‑dense sky, its engine cluster glowing as it departs a lunar landscape. Below, a Moon base is rendered in gritty, painterly tones—arched hangars punctured with rivet‑like ports, a runway strip in dusty pink, and figures in striped pressure suits with high‑visibility red life‑support packs. The scene has the unmistakable feel of 1960s “future reportage”—half illustration, half speculative engineering.

The typography completes the period mood: bold red headline lettering with black shadowing, mimicking a breaking‑news banner announcing a grand launch into deep space.

Key front text (translated):

• 惑星探検船ディスカバラー号 — “Planetary exploration ship Discoverer” (i.e., the Discovery craft)

• 無限の宇宙へ大発進 — “A great launch into infinite space”

• 2001年宇宙の旅 — “2001: A Space Odyssey”

A particularly fascinating period detail: the ship is named “ディスカバラー号 (Discoverer)” rather than the now‑standard “ディスカバリー (Discovery)”, reflecting how early Japanese materials sometimes circulated terminology before the final naming fully “settled” with the broader public.

Reverse: “ディスカバラー号のひみつ” (Secrets of the Discoverer)

Flip the sheet and the tone shifts from cinematic spectacle to blueprint‑style wonder: a deep indigo/blue technical illustration shows the craft in cutaway, with a spherical habitation module, long connecting spine, and engine section—surrounded by boxed callouts explaining ship systems. The layout is pure golden‑age shōnen science: part diagram, part story primer, meant to be studied and admired.

Notable reverse elements (translated highlights):

• ディスカバラー号のひみつ — “The secrets of the Discoverer”

• 回転式の人工重力室 — “Rotating artificial‑gravity chamber”

• 全宇宙からの電波をとらえるアンテナ — “Antenna that captures radio waves from all of space”

• 原子力エンジン部 — “Nuclear engine section”

• 木星 — “Jupiter” (the destination emphasized in the explanatory text)

This reverse side functions as both collectible display art and a snapshot of how 2001 was interpreted for young Japanese readers in 1968—equal parts cinema and science education.

Artists / credits (as printed on the poster)

This piece is especially desirable because it is fully credit‑bearing, tying it to specific creators from Japan’s SF illustration ecosystem:

• Front illustration: 依光 隆 (Ikō / Yorimitsu Takashi)

• Technical diagram: 大伴昌司 (Ōtomo Shōji)

• Reverse illustration: 水氦隆義

Ōtomo Shōji is particularly notable in Japan for his work in diagrammatic / explanatory illustration—the kind of precise, imaginative cutaway work that became a defining visual language of mid‑century Japanese youth magazines.
Ikō / Yorimitsu Takashi is credited on Japanese SF publishing projects (including cover illustration work), consistent with the polished, pulp‑SF sophistication of the front composition.

Why collectors prize this

• True 1968 Japanese ephemera: a magazine pin‑up, not a later poster or reprint—rarely preserved in excellent condition.

• Japan‑unique interpretation: combines original Japanese illustration with a bespoke technical cutaway aesthetic aimed at shōnen readers—material you simply do not see in overseas campaigns.

• Historically revealing nomenclature: the ship name appearing as “ディスカバラー号” is a time‑capsule detail from the film’s early Japanese reception.

• Two display‑worthy sides: cinematic “future history” on the front; collector‑grade blueprint/cutaway art on the reverse.

• Credited creators: named illustration and diagram credits elevate this beyond anonymous magazine art into a document of Japanese SF illustration culture.

Condition

Excellent. Colors remain strong, with crisp readability across both the front illustration and the reverse technical printing. As typical for bound‑in pin‑ups, original fold lines from magazine insertion may be present—these are part of how the piece was issued. Please review the photos of front and back; they show the exact item offered.

This poster is over 55 years old.
It is not a reproduction or reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.