“KIRIN LAGER BEER × HARRISON FORD” (1994–1995) – ORIGINAL JAPANESE B2 ADVERTISING POSTER – “MR. BEER” CAMPAIGN (STORE‑USE / 非売品)
Extremely Rare | In‑Store Display (Not for Sale) | Mid‑’90s Issue 1994–1995 | 51 × 73 cm (B2)
This is an original Japanese B2 poster from Kirin Lager Beer’s early‑’90s “Mr. Beer” campaign featuring Harrison Ford, shown alongside an extravagant platter of fugu sashimi (pufferfish)—a famously elite Japanese delicacy with a reputation for danger if not prepared by licensed professionals. Issued in the 1994–1995 campaign window, this example survives in excellent, close‑to‑near‑mint condition—an outstanding piece from Japan’s golden era of beverage advertising.
Japan‑only design & credit
This is a Japan‑exclusive, store‑use (非売品) promotional sheet—distributed to retailers for display and not sold to the public. As with many ’90s in‑store POP posters, specific agency/photographer credits are not printed on the sheet, which is typical for display materials intended for short retail runs.
Poster design (what you see here)
A clean studio‑white background, sharp product emphasis, and bold black headline typography make this instantly recognizable. The main copy reads 「キリンラガービール、ください。」 (“Kirin Lager Beer, please.”). Ford is pictured raising a chilled Kirin Lager can, while the centerpiece is a dramatic fugu sashimi spread arranged in a classic, fan‑like presentation—an unmistakable visual cue of “special occasion” Japanese dining. At bottom right, the pack‑shot shows the 350 ml can alongside the signature bottle, with the campaign line 「ミスター・ビール。キリンラガービール」 (“Mr. Beer. Kirin Lager Beer.”). The bottom legal line reads: 「ビールは、20歳になってから。あきかんは、リサイクルへ。」 (“Beer is for age 20+; please recycle cans.”).
Beer & celebrity in Japan
Kirin Lager is one of Japan’s most established lager brands, and celebrity endorsements have long been a hallmark of Japanese advertising—especially in beverages—making this campaign a perfect intersection of heritage brewing and Hollywood star power.
Ford’s Kirin Lager era remains a standout example of Japan’s minimalist, high‑impact ad style: simple backgrounds, bold typography, and instantly readable product storytelling.
About the B2 format (size & rarity)
Japanese advertising posters commonly use B2 size (51 × 73 cm / approx. 20.1 × 28.7 in). In‑store brewery posters were typically printed for short display windows, handled heavily, and discarded—so clean originals are genuinely hard to find decades later.
Why this example is extraordinary (rarity & market)
Most surviving ’90s beer POP shows heavy wear (tape marks, tearing, fold lines, staining). This piece retains strong color, a clean image area, and very light, honest display handling at most, making it a highly collectible example—especially with the unmistakable Harrison Ford visual and the striking fugu sashimi presentation (a uniquely Japanese “luxury + risk + tradition” motif).
Condition
Excellent overall condition (close to Near Mint) with only minor signs of age/display typical for mid‑’90s store materials. Clean image area, no major tears, and no heavy creasing apparent. Please review the close‑up photos for exact detail.
It is over 30 years old.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
A rare, nostalgia‑rich Kirin Lager “Mr. Beer” Japanese B2 poster—an authentic, store‑use (非売品) piece with unforgettable presence: Harrison Ford + iconic Kirin pack‑shot + dramatic fugu sashimi in excellent surviving condition for a true mid‑’90s retail display original.
