"Kill Bill: Vol. 1", Original Release Japanese B1 Character Poster 2003, Rare, B1 Poster Size (c.72 cm × 103 cm)
This is an original, very rare, Japanese B1 poster printed in 2003 to promote the Japanese theatrical release of Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (キル・ビル Vol.1), Quentin Tarantino’s fourth feature—released in Japanese cinemas on 25 October 2003 (10.25).
Film background Kill Bill: Vol. 1 is the first chapter of Tarantino’s two-part, globe-trotting revenge epic—an operatic collision of spaghetti-western swagger, kung-fu cinema, yakuza lore, and razor-sharp pop culture. While the story spans continents, a major and most iconic stretch is set in Japan: The Bride arrives to commission a sword from legendary bladesmith Hattori Hanzō, then heads to Tokyo for the climactic underworld showdown against yakuza boss O-Ren Ishii and her army (the infamous “Crazy 88”). That Japanese setting—and Tarantino’s deep love letter to Japanese genre cinema—makes original Japanese release materials especially coveted by collectors.
This particular poster spotlights one of the film’s most memorable Japan-set antagonists: Gogo Yubari (ゴーゴー夕張), O-Ren’s lethal, school-uniform bodyguard—an instantly recognisable character whose look became a cult icon in its own right.
Poster design Printed in the large B1 cinema-poster format, this ultra-bold Japanese character design features:
- A searing, high-impact yellow field dominated by gigantic black “KILL BILL” typography—so oversized it becomes the background architecture of the entire composition.
Centre-stage: Gogo Yubari in her school uniform (blazer, tie, plaid skirt), posed with her signature chained weapon—capturing the film’s exact tonal blend of stylised cool and sudden menace.
- Across her chest: the striking Japanese tagline 映画革命 (“Cinema Revolution”), positioned like a manifesto stamp, paired with the release date 10.25 in vivid red—an aggressive, minimalist release callout that feels like a punk gig poster and perfectly matches the film’s adrenaline.
Top banner text: “THE 4th FILM BY QUENTIN TARANTINO”, anchoring the piece as a major auteur release rather than a standard action campaign.
Lower right: the Japanese title キル・ビル Vol.1 (Vol.1 highlighted in red), plus the small Hattori Hanzō emblem—an elegant in-joke for fans, referencing the swordsmith mythology that’s central to the Japan segment of the film.
Bottom typography and credits: “UMA THURMAN” in oversized type, a full cast line (including Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, David Carradine), and the original www.killbill.jp website text—period-perfect early-2000s campaign detail that is often missing from later reproductions.
Because this is a Japanese B1 (a premium large-format display size), it has a commanding presence on the wall—far more dramatic than standard B2s. The fact that this is a Japan-issued poster featuring the schoolgirl villain character makes it one of the most visually distinctive and conversation-starting pieces from the entire Kill Bill paper run.
This poster is in excellent condition (close to near mint). Please refer to the imagery (both front and back) as this is the exact poster that is for sale.
This is the first time that we have had this poster in our gallery.
It is over 22 years old!
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
