"Kwaidan" (怪談), Original First-Release Japanese B1 Poster 1964, Ultra Rare, B1 Size (c.103 × 73 cm)

This is an original Japanese country-of-origin B1 poster printed in 1964 for the first domestic release of Kwaidan, Masaki Kobayashi’s hypnotic, prestige anthology of traditional ghost stories—renowned for its painterly studio-built tableaux, unnerving stillness, and the unmistakable atmosphere of a dream turning dark.

Adapted from Lafcadio Hearn’s classic retellings, the film presents four tales—Black Hair, The Woman of the Snow, Hoichi the Earless, and In a Cup of Tea—each staged as if on a vast theatrical set: minimal, stylised, and meticulously controlled. The result is less “horror” in the modern sense than a museum-grade vision of Japanese folklore, where beauty and dread are inseparable.

Why this piece is special

Ultra-rare B1 horizontal format – This is the desirable large, widescreen B1 format (approx. 103 × 73 cm), produced for high-impact display. Surviving examples—especially with strong colour and clean presentation—are exceptionally hard to source.

Tie-up advertising variant – This is a true tie-up poster, incorporating a period corner advertisement for Toho Rayon’s acrylic fibre “Beslon” (ベスロン). These crossover sheets are coveted because they capture a uniquely Japanese moment in cinema history—where prestige film marketing and contemporary consumer culture converge on a single design.

A masterclass in mood – The composition is quintessentially Kwaidan: storm-grey ink-wash reeds, an all-seeing eye suspended in cloud, and the iconic teal brush-calligraphy 怪談 cutting through the fog like a spell. The central portrait vignette—icy, masklike, and luminous—distils the film’s eeriness into one unforgettable gaze.

First-release, studio provenance – The sheet carries Toho branding and the period colour callout 総天然色 (“Total Natural Color”), underscoring the film’s original roadshow-era ambition and its status as a premium studio production at the height of Japanese widescreen spectacle.

It is over 60 years old!

This poster was folded and subsequently stored rolled. It is in very good / excellent condition for its age and format. There is strong overall display presence with only light, age-appropriate handling characteristics visible. Please examine the photos (front & back) – they show the exact item for sale.

It is not a reproduction or reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.