“Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence” (戦場のメリークリスマス), Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1983, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) O80A

This is an original Japanese B2 movie poster printed in 1983 for the first theatrical release of Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (戦場のメリークリスマス), Nagisa Ōshima’s internationally acclaimed wartime drama.

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence is a 1983 British-Japanese drama directed by Nagisa Ōshima, starring David Bowie, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Takeshi Kitano, Tom Conti, and Jack Thompson. Set in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp during the Second World War, the film explores power, discipline, cultural misunderstanding, desire, and psychological conflict between captors and prisoners. It remains one of Ōshima’s best-known works internationally and is especially significant for bringing together Bowie, Sakamoto, Kitano, and Ōshima at a pivotal moment in Japanese and global cinema.

The film is also celebrated for Ryuichi Sakamoto’s iconic score, including the title theme, which became one of his most recognised compositions. Sakamoto also appears on screen as Captain Yonoi, opposite David Bowie’s Major Jack Celliers, creating one of the most memorable actor-musician pairings of 1980s cinema.

The Japanese poster design is unusually bold and graphic, built around large portrait panels of Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Bowie, Nagisa Ōshima, Takeshi Kitano, and Tom Conti. The striking vertical Japanese title 戦場のメリークリスマス dominates the centre in red and blue, giving the poster a strong typographic presence. The design has a distinctly Japanese campaign style, combining star portraits, director branding, and dramatic promotional copy rather than relying solely on a single still from the film.

Condition
Excellent condition. Please review the photos; they show the exact poster for sale. 

It is over 43 years old!

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.