“Kikujiro” (菊次郎の夏), Original Japanese Movie Poster 1999, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) N103

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed in 1999 for the first release of Kikujiro (菊次郎の夏), written, directed, and co-edited by Takeshi Kitano, who also stars in the film alongside Yusuke Sekiguchi and Kayoko Kishimoto. The score was composed by Joe Hisaishi, whose music for the film has become one of the most recognisable in modern Japanese cinema.

Film background

Released in 1999, Kikujiro is one of Kitano’s warmest and most quietly affecting films: a drifting summer road movie in which an unruly middle-aged man and a young boy travel together in search of the boy’s mother. It stands apart within Kitano’s body of work for its blend of deadpan humour, tenderness, melancholy, and childlike wonder, while still retaining the director’s unmistakable sense of timing and visual restraint. The film was entered into the 1999 Cannes Film Festival, and it remains one of the key titles of his late-1990s period.

Poster design

This is a superb and highly evocative Japanese design. The poster is dominated by a vast field of luminous green leaves, out of which the two central figures emerge almost like children hiding in nature. The image is both comic and poetic: the adult figure and the boy each use oversized leaves as makeshift cover, while the handwritten dialogue floating above them reinforces the film’s playful, conversational spirit. The large white brush-style title across the lower centre has real presence, and the rich green palette gives the sheet an immediately recognisable summer atmosphere.

Unlike more conventional star-driven posters, this design captures the film’s tone through mood rather than plot. It is gentle, funny, and slightly odd — exactly the qualities that make Kikujiro so memorable. As a display piece, it is especially strong because of its simplicity and colour impact.

Condition

Excellent. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale. The poster presents very well overall, with fresh colour, strong gloss, and excellent display appeal. 

It is over 27 years old!

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.