This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster for Wim Wenders’ revered 1976 road-film masterpiece Kings of the Road (German title: Im Lauf der Zeit, released in Japan as さすらい). A beautifully composed and highly collectible Japanese design, it pairs bold, oversized blue calligraphic title typography with stark black-and-white film imagery—capturing the film’s drifting mood, its long road horizons, and the quiet intimacy of two men moving through a changing Germany. The poster also notes the film’s 1976 Cannes Film Festival International Critics Prize (国際批評家賞) award (as printed), underscoring its prestige and canonical status within Wenders’ “road movie” era.
What truly elevates this example into a major collector’s piece is the large, clear handwritten signature of Wim Wenders, boldly sweeping across the lower image area. Even more desirably, it is personally inscribed “Kyoto 17.3.92” (as pictured), giving the autograph a specific place and date—something far less common than a simple signature.
Key Features:
Original Japanese B2 poster for Kings of the Road / さすらい (Im Lauf der Zeit) (1976) — not a reproduction or reprint.
Hand-signed by Wim Wenders, with a date + location inscription “Kyoto 17.3.92” clearly visible on the front (see photos).
Exceptional Japanese graphic design: oversized blue title calligraphy, elegant mid-panel typography, and powerful black-and-white stills that echo the film’s contemplative, travelling rhythm.
The poster text highlights Wenders’ “Road Movie” trilogy context (as printed) — making this an essential piece for collectors who focus on his foundational 1970s work.
Design credit visible: DESIGN: M. OGASAWARA (printed at the lower-left).
Rare title + rare signature combination: signed Japanese B2 posters for Wenders’ road films are scarce, and Kyoto-dated signed examples are particularly uncommon—making this a standout Wenders collectible.
Excellent overall condition for display, with light edge/handling wear and minor age/handling impressions visible on the reverse (please see photos for exact condition).
About the Film:
Directed by Wim Wenders, Kings of the Road (also known internationally as In the Course of Time) is widely regarded as one of the defining achievements of 1970s European cinema—and a cornerstone of Wenders’ road-movie cycle. Following two men traveling along the inner-German border, the film unfolds as a hypnotic journey through landscapes, small towns, fading movie theaters, and quiet conversations—turning movement itself into meaning. It’s a work of deep atmosphere and human presence: reflective, funny, melancholic, and profoundly cinematic, with that unmistakable Wenders sense that the road is both a real place and an inner state.
About Wim Wenders & Japan:
Wim Wenders’ close relationship with Japan is one of the most meaningful cross-cultural threads in his career. His documentary Tokyo-Ga stands as a landmark cinematic love letter to Japan—an essay on Tokyo, memory, and the spirit of Japanese cinema—while his recent film Perfect Days is a modern continuation of that connection, returning to Tokyo with a quiet devotion to everyday life, ritual, and observation. In this context, this original Japanese movie poster signed by Wim Wenders in Japan—specifically dated and located “Kyoto 17.3.92”—becomes even more special: a rare, provenance-rich artifact that directly reflects Wenders’ lived, ongoing dialogue with Japan, and an exceptional piece for serious collectors.
This poster is in excellent display condition. Please refer to the imagery (both front and back) as this is the exact poster that is for sale.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
