“Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back” (スター・ウォーズ 帝国の逆襲), Original Japanese First-Release Movie Poster 1980, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) B100
This is an original Japanese B2 poster printed in 1980 for the first theatrical release of Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (スター・ウォーズ 帝国の逆襲), produced by Lucasfilm and distributed by 20th Century Fox. Featuring artwork by the legendary Japanese illustrator Noriyoshi Ohrai (生賴範義), this is widely regarded as one of the most iconic Star Wars poster designs ever created—an essential “Japanese-market masterpiece” where the franchise meets top-tier Japanese illustration.
Film background
Directed by Irvin Kershner, The Empire Strikes Back is the saga’s darker, more emotionally complex middle chapter—introducing Yoda, Lando Calrissian, and Boba Fett, expanding the mythology of the Force, and culminating in one of cinema’s most famous revelations. For many fans and critics, it remains the high point of the original trilogy: larger in scale, sharper in drama, and unforgettable in atmosphere.
Poster design
This poster is celebrated because it is Star Wars filtered through Japanese illustration culture at its peak. Ohrai’s painted montage delivers spectacle and intimacy in one image: the heroes framed against deep space and battle imagery, Cloud City looming as a futuristic stage, and the romantic core of Han and Leia anchoring the composition. The bold Japanese title 「スター・ウォーズ 帝国の逆襲」 dominates the lower field, while Ohrai’s unmistakable brushwork gives the entire sheet a premium, collector-grade feel—dynamic, cinematic, and instantly recognisable even among the strongest international variants.
Condition
Very Good. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.
This is a theatre-used example and shows authentic evidence of original display. These are minor and, once framed, the poster presents beautifully. We have taken the condition into account when pricing.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
It is over 45 years old!
Certificate of Authenticity included.
