This is an original Japanese STB tatekan (two-panel standing) poster issued in Japan for Ishirô Honda’s landmark Toho kaiju film The War of the Gargantuas. Produced in the dramatic STB format—two B2 sheets designed to display together as one towering vertical image—it is one of the most visually arresting and hardest-to-find non-Godzilla Toho posters of the 1960s. For serious kaiju collectors, this is holy grail paper: first release, country-of-origin, and the only example we have seen in almost ten years.
Important note on authenticity
This is a 100% original 1966 Japanese theatrical poster. It is not a reproduction or a reprint, but a genuine first-release Toho cinema poster from the film’s original Japanese campaign.
Film background
Released by Toho in 1966 and directed by Ishirô Honda, The War of the Gargantuas is widely regarded as one of the darkest, most intense, and most beloved entries in the wider Toho kaiju canon. A loose continuation of Frankenstein Conquers the World, the film follows two gigantic humanoid “brother” monsters born from Frankenstein cells: Sanda, the gentle brown giant raised away from civilisation, and Gaira, the violent green sea-dweller who begins terrorising Japan’s coast and devouring humans. When the military deploys its high-tech Maser weaponry, Sanda is drawn into conflict with his monstrous sibling, leading to one of the most tragic and ferocious climaxes in 1960s kaiju cinema. The cast includes Russ Tamblyn, Kumi Mizuno, Kenji Sahara, Nobuo Nakamura, and Jun Tazaki.
Poster design
This STB is pure mid-60s Toho spectacle. The upper panel is dominated by the looming Gargantua beneath a stormy blue-black sky, with helicopters circling overhead and a train carriage gripped in one hand, while the second beast rises snarling from below. Running down the left side is the monumental yellow “サンダ対ガイラ” title, one of the boldest and most memorable title treatments in all vintage kaiju advertising, while the red vertical title strip cuts through the composition like a warning signal. The lower panel shifts into full catastrophe mode: Tokyo in flames, troops in the streets, and the film’s iconic Maser cannons blazing upward beneath the monsters. At the base, the clean white credit panel and cast portraits give the design that unmistakable Toho balance of star power and destruction. Once framed, this will make a phenomenal display item.
Rarity and condition
Japanese STB tatekan posters were printed in far smaller quantities than standard theatrical posters and were made for real cinema use, meaning complete first-release survivors are exceptionally difficult to find today—especially for a title of this calibre. This is an ultra-rare poster, and in ten years this is the only example we have encountered.
This example is unrestored and presents in excellent original condition for its age. The colours remain rich and dramatic, and the poster displays superbly overall. Additional photography has been provided to show a minor tear / small area of paper loss to the bottom right-hand corner, along with the reverse and close-up detail. There is also the expected light fold and handling wear consistent with vintage Japanese cinema paper, but nothing that detracts from the huge visual impact of the piece. Please inspect the photos carefully as they show the exact poster for sale.
It dates from the film’s original 1966 release.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
A rare opportunity to acquire one of Toho’s most iconic non-Godzilla posters in its most desirable large-format presentation—an original 1966 STB tatekan for The War of the Gargantuas, unrestored, ultra scarce, and a true centrepiece for an advanced kaiju collection.
Please note the price is fixed for this item. It is not included in any of our periodic sales (e.g. Black Friday)!
