“2001: A Space Odyssey” (2001年宇宙の旅), Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1968, Ultra Rare, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) P187

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed in 1968 for the first Japanese release of 2001: A Space Odyssey (2001年宇宙の旅), produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick. An ultra-rare survivor in near mint condition, this example was held in a private collection for almost six decades—originally obtained as a gift from a local cinema in Iwate Prefecture (a common practice at the time, often given to early ticket purchasers as part of the roadshow-era “event film” experience).

Film background
Kubrick’s 1968 epic is widely regarded as one of the most influential science fiction films ever made—an almost singular achievement in cinematic realism, philosophical ambition, and special-effects innovation. Its imagery—rotating spacecraft, deep-space silence, HAL 9000, and the transcendent final movement—permanently altered what audiences expected science fiction to be. Designed as a true roadshow event, 2001 was engineered for premium large-format presentation and a sense of futurist spectacle that went far beyond ordinary cinema programming.

A wonderful period tell: the “Kubrick” katakana detail
A fascinating time-stamped marker appears directly on the sheet: the director credit is printed as スタンリー・カブリック (“Stanley Kabrick”), reflecting an early Japanese katakana rendering seen on some period materials. Later releases more commonly standardised his name as スタンリー・キューブリック—making this poster not only a first-release artefact, but also a preserved fragment of Japanese film-culture typography that collectors love.

Poster design
One of the most iconic science-fiction images ever put to paper: the graceful rotating space station and Orion shuttle rendered with clean, technical realism—pure mid-century futurism. The bold Japanese title 2001年宇宙の旅 is set in striking yellow, while the “ミネラマ” roadshow branding and premium presentation text underscore the film’s status as a must-see spectacle. Minimal, architectural, and intensely displayable—this is a true museum-grade B2 for serious Kubrick collectors.

Provenance
Originally gifted by a local cinema in Iwate (northern Japan) to early ticket buyers—an authentic piece of roadshow-era cinema culture and a particularly compelling origin story for a surviving first-release poster.

Condition
Near Mint. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.
Stored carefully for decades; an exceptional survivor for a 1968 B2.

It is over 57 years old!
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.