“Tora! Tora! Tora!” (トラ・トラ・トラ！), Original Japanese Movie Poster 1970, Martin Balsam / Sō Yamamura, STB Tatekan Two-Sheet Format (c. 51 × 145 cm) — U7

This is an original Japanese STB tatekan theatrical poster for the 1970 release of Tora! Tora! Tora!. Over fifty years old, this complete two-sheet example combines sweeping battle imagery with enormous red typography, conveying the scale of one of the period’s most ambitious war films.

Directed by Richard Fleischer, Toshio Masuda, and Kinji Fukasaku, the film depicts the events leading to the attack on Pearl Harbor from both American and Japanese perspectives. Its international ensemble includes Martin Balsam, Sō Yamamura, Joseph Cotten, Tatsuya Mihashi, E. G. Marshall, and Jason Robards. The narrative follows military preparations, diplomatic tensions, and intelligence failures before culminating in the attack itself.

Printed on two sheets arranged vertically, the design makes dramatic use of the tall tatekan format. Japanese aircraft sweep diagonally through the upper section above burning warships, gun turrets, and towering columns of smoke. A prominent red “70mm” emblem, accompanied by references to DeLuxe Color, Panavision, and stereophonic sound, advertises the spectacle of the theatrical presentation.

The oversized red lettering 「トラ・トラ・トラ」 carries the composition across both sheets, its staggered arrangement creating a strong downward rhythm. Beneath it, a second attack scene shows aircraft flying low over an airfield, with burning parked planes and servicemen diving for cover in the foreground. Production credits occupy the space beside the title, while the international cast, English title, and 20th Century Fox logo appear towards the bottom.

The prominent red tagline reads:

「今世紀最高最大のスケールで描く戦争スペクタクル巨篇！」
“A spectacular war epic on the grandest scale of the century!”

The combination of expansive battle scenes, bold lettering, and prominent 70mm advertising gives this poster a distinctive presence. It is an especially appealing example for collectors of classic war cinema, Richard Fleischer, Kinji Fukasaku, Toshio Masuda, and Japanese film poster design of the 1970s.

Condition: Excellent+.

Please review all photographs, including the individual sheets and reverse, as they show the exact poster for sale.

STB tatekan format: approximately 51 × 145 cm when assembled.
Stock code: U7.

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.

About STB (Tatekan) posters
Japanese STB / tatekan posters were tall standing-board advertisements, printed in two pieces to be joined vertically for cinema display. Typically measuring around 51 × 145 cm, their elongated proportions offered considerable scope for distinctive compositions. Designed for temporary theatrical use, complete surviving examples preserve an important part of Japan’s cinema advertising history.