This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed in 1964 for the second theatrical release of King Kong vs. Godzilla (キングコング対ゴジラ) — Toho’s era-defining kaiju showdown and the third film in the Godzilla series. The film was an instant hit on its 1962 debut, prompting an unusually quick re-issue just two years later—and this poster captures that moment: the “battle of the century” presented with maximum colour, impact, and pure Toho bravura.
Film background
“Kaiju” is the Japanese term for the giant-monster genre—and the Godzilla phenomenon did not appear in a vacuum. Japanese audiences had already embraced spectacle monsters through events like the 1952 Japanese re-release of King Kong, followed soon after by The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953), released in Japan under the title 原子怪獣現わる (“An Atomic Kaiju Appears”). Godzilla arrived in 1954, and by the time King Kong vs. Godzilla reached cinemas in 1962, the genre had become a national obsession. This entry became one of Toho’s biggest crowd-pleasers—so popular it enjoyed multiple theatrical releases over the years, with the 1964 re-release being among the most desirable paper for collectors because of its scarcer, later distribution.
Poster design
A masterclass in early-60s Japanese kaiju advertising: the composition is dominated by Godzilla and Kong locked in combat, staged against a dramatic red sky that feels almost incendiary. The colossal title 「キングコング対ゴジラ」 (King Kong vs. Godzilla) lands like a physical object—blocky, urgent, and unmistakably Toho.
Along the right edge, the vertical copy reads: 「ゴジラ勝つか キング勝つか 世紀の大決戦」 — “Will Godzilla win? Will Kong win? The battle of the century.”
A vivid period detail: 「総天然色」 (“Full Colour”) appears with star accents, while the Toho mark (東宝) seals the design at the top. The lower montage—burning city, terrified crowds, and cast photo strip—delivers that classic Japanese “everything on one sheet” promise: spectacle, panic, stars, and scale.
Rarity and release clarification
This is the 1964 theatrical re-release poster—not the first-release 1962 version. Because the 1964 release was comparatively smaller, many collectors have mistakenly assumed this design to be first-release paper. To complicate matters further, the same artwork was later echoed on 1980s home-video materials, leading to frequent confusion in the marketplace.
What matters here: this example is a true theatrical B2 from the 1964 re-issue, and it presents exactly as you want this title to present—bold, clean, and historically correct.
Authenticity
There are many reproductions of this design in circulation. Rest assured: this is 100% original—vintage Japanese offset print on period paper, with the correct overall look, tone, and ageing you expect from genuine Toho theatre material (not modern commercial reprint stock). Certificate of Authenticity included.
Rarity and condition
A genuinely scarce Toho re-release poster in a title category where condition is everything. This example is remarkable: no pinholes, no tears, and no fold lines, with excellent colour and a beautifully stable, display-ready presence. Stored flat for over 25 years in a private collection.
Condition
Excellent. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.
Many of our items are sourced from across Japan, often privately, as our owner is Japanese and has an extensive network across Japan of dealers and collectors developed over almost ten years.
It is over 60 years old!
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
