“Rashomon” (羅生門), 1965 Japanese Speed Poster / Verso Press Sheet (Re-release), Size (c. 24 × 51 cm) O774
This is an original Japanese re-release “speed” poster / verso press sheet issued in Japan in 1965 for Akira Kurosawa’s world-changing classic Rashomon (羅生門). In this long, horizontal format, it delivers huge visual impact in a compact, frame-friendly size—while the reverse is printed as a full press-style sheet with synopsis/credits and striking portrait imagery, making it an especially appealing piece for collectors who love “non-standard” Japanese paper formats.
Film background
Directed by Akira Kurosawa, Rashomon is one of the most influential films ever made—an essential cornerstone of world cinema whose structure (multiple conflicting testimonies, truth fractured by perspective) permanently entered the cultural vocabulary as the “Rashomon effect.” Starring Toshiro Mifune as the bandit Tajōmaru and Machiko Kyō as the woman at the center of the case, the film unfolds through competing accounts of violence and honor in a ruined Kyoto landscape—where the same event becomes a different story depending on who speaks.
The film’s international breakthrough reshaped global awareness of Japanese cinema, and this 1965 re-release paper reflects that legacy directly in its promotional language and award imagery.
Poster design
A powerful, highly cinematic two-sided presentation—designed to hit fast, read instantly, and linger in the mind.
Front (color): the sheet is dominated by an intense close-up of Mifune, with Kyō partially concealed behind him, creating a tense, intimate psychological charge. The title 「羅生門」 appears in bold, brushy black calligraphy—pure Kurosawa-era graphic authority—while the right side erupts into action: a sword fight staged against the shattered architecture associated with the Rashomon gate. At the top, the design features trophy imagery and celebratory copy referencing international prestige, while the Daiei (大映) identity appears at the upper corner—anchoring it firmly as Japanese studio release material.
Verso (press sheet): the reverse is densely printed with Japanese text blocks (synopsis/notes/credits), a cast/staff listing, small stills/character images, and large dramatic portraits—turning the piece into a “mini press-kit on paper.” It’s the kind of reverse-printing collectors love because it documents how the film was presented and explained to audiences at the time.
Condition is very good overall, with strong display appeal and powerful imagery. As noted, a fold has been reinforced on the verso with archival tape. Because the reinforcement is on the reverse, once framed this will present as an excellent display piece—clean, striking, and period-authentic. Please inspect the photos carefully as they show the exact poster for sale.
It is over 60 years old.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
A distinctive opportunity to acquire a 1965 Japanese re-release Rashomon speed poster / verso press sheet—compact, uncommon, and loaded with Kurosawa-era visual power on both sides.
