“Third” / “Third Base” (サード), Original Japanese Movie Poster 1978, ATG, B2 Size (51.5 × 72.8 cm) — H118

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed for the 1978 release of Third, also known as Third Base, directed by Yoichi Higashi with a screenplay by Shuji Terayama. Produced by Gentosha in association with the Art Theatre Guild (ATG), the film is a moving portrait of youth, confinement and the desire for freedom.

Based on Haku Nokigami’s September Town, the story follows a young man nicknamed “Third” after his position on the baseball field. Now confined to a juvenile reformatory, he recalls the relationships and events that led to his imprisonment. Toshiyuki Nagashima plays the central role, bringing a physical intensity to a character caught between restless energy and an uncertain future.

The poster expresses this tension through two contrasting photographic scenes. Across the upper half, a large profile of Nagashima faces a glowing orange sun suspended over a dark horizon. The warm sky and closely cropped portrait create a reflective, melancholic atmosphere.

Below, the image opens into daylight. The young man runs along a road bordered by dense green foliage, his white clothing standing out sharply against the landscape. A young woman appears with her back to the viewer in the left foreground, wearing a floral yukata with a vivid red obi. The contrast between his movement and her stillness gives the scene a quiet emotional charge.

The bold red title, サード, stretches across the boundary between the two images. White vertical credits identify Higashi and Terayama at the upper left, while the cast names run across the centre. The familiar red ATG logo anchors the lower-right corner.

The poetic promotional text reads:

「ひとみの奥に灼きついた九月の町
走れ サード
鉄格子の彼方
まぼろしのホームベース求めて」

“September’s town, burned into the depths of your eyes.
Run, Third—
beyond the prison bars,
in search of an elusive home plate.”

The combination of sunset colour, expressive portraiture and the running figure makes this a particularly evocative example of 1970s Japanese youth-film advertising, with added appeal for collectors of ATG cinema and Shuji Terayama’s film work.

Condition: Very Good / Excellent.

There is minor edge wear along the right-hand side, including localised creasing and rubbing, as shown in the close-up photograph. 

The colours remain strong and the central imagery presents beautifully. Once framed, this poster will display excellently.

Please review all photographs, including the front, reverse and close-up image, as they show the exact poster for sale.

Japanese B2 size: approximately 51.5 × 72.8 cm.
Stock code: H118.

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.