“Kiku and Isamu” (キクとイサム), Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1959 (Shōwa 34), B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) P214

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed for the first-run release of Kiku and Isamu (キクとイサム), directed by Tadashi Imai (今井正) with a screenplay by Yōko Mizuki (水木洋子), and released in Japan in 1959 (Shōwa 34).

Film background

Often cited as one of the defining post-war “social conscience” dramas, Kiku and Isamu follows two mixed-race children living with their mother in rural Japan, confronting prejudice and hardship in the wake of the Occupation. Imai’s film was widely recognised on release—winning the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Film, with additional honours for performance and screenplay.

Poster design

A beautifully direct, human-centred design: the siblings’ faces fill the frame beneath a branch heavy with fruit, while the bold yellow title 「キクとイサム」 anchors the bottom in classic Shōwa-era typography.

A particularly compelling feature of this example is the original exhibitor/date stamp visible on the sheet: it is dated Shōwa 34 (1959) and shows a screening period marked 7/1–7/31, giving this poster genuine, time-stamped cinema-use provenance rather than being a backdoor or later collector copy. 

Condition
Very Good. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.

This poster was previously displayed over 65 years ago. Light handling and edge wear consistent with age; the image remains strong and exceptionally displayable.

It is over 66 years old!
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.