*Please note the price is fixed for this item. It is not included in any of our periodic sales (e.g. Black Friday)!*
We have only had the pleasure of seeing this historical advertisement in the Sapporo Brewery itself (second image). The poster on display in the museum was used at the time and is therefore, the artwork on our poster is far brighter as it was stored away from sunlight for over 100 years.
The poster itself was given as a gift (unused) to a gentlemen called Otani Niryo on 19th August 1922 (Taisho 11, 8th Month, 19th Day). This is written on the back of the poster in Japanese calligraphy - Shuji (as can be seen in the imagery provided,). The majority of people still used the ancient brush instead of pen at this time. This poster is from a era just after Japan opened itself up to the West, prior to this Japan had been a closed and mysterious country for thousands of years run by an Emperor and his Samurai lords.
This poster had been in the Otani family for over 100 years and we acquired this piece from his grandson who found it carefully stored rolled in a dark but well aerated wooden chest of drawers.
This poster is 103 years old. The condition of this poster is excellent, resembling a painting with vibrant colors and phenomenal artwork.
Please refer to the imagery provided as this is the exact poster for sale.
Certificate of Authenticity Included.
Pre-War Japanese beer posters: A testament to timeless beauty?
Japanese beer culture has seen a remarkable transformation in the last two decades. Before 1994, breweries in Japan were required to produce a minimum of 528,000 gallons annually to obtain a license, a rule designed to favor long-established corporations. A similar regulatory landscape still persists in Korea, contributing to the dominance of bland offerings like Hite, Cass, and OB.
While Japan's contemporary beer scene flourishes, its advertising's golden era lies in the past — specifically, before World War II. During this time, advertisements relied on meticulous hand-drawn illustrations for their allure.
Brands such as Asahi, Kirin, and Sapporo, though not known for their bold flavors then, employed visually captivating imagery in their posters and postcards to promote their products.
The early advertising featured kimono-clad geishas, appealing to both local consumers and export markets across Asia and beyond.
Today, a thriving market exists for these vintage advertising pieces and their meticulously reproduced prints suitable for framing. Enthusiasts who delve into this world often discover that iconic images, like the 'Asahi girl,' frequently appeared in posters for other brands like Sapporo."
H205