“Ichi the Killer” (殺し屋１ / Koroshiya Ichi), Original Japanese First Release Movie Poster 2001, Very Rare, B2 Size (c. 51 × 73 cm) O665

This is an original Japanese B2 poster issued in Japan for the first domestic theatrical release of Koroshiya 1 (Ichi the Killer, 2001), directed by Takashi Miike and based on the manga by Hideo Yamamoto, with screenplay by Tadanobu Asano (also starring) and produced under the film’s original Japanese release campaign. A notorious modern cult title, Ichi the Killer is a defining entry in early-2000s extreme Japanese cinema—infamous, provocative, and visually unforgettable—making original Japanese theatrical posters for the film highly collectible.

Poster design
A bold, minimalist concept poster built around a single burning image: a huge, glowing yellow “1” like a neon wound, emerging from deep blackness with the suggestion of a figure half-swallowed by shadow. The design is pure “negative space” tension—graphic, contemporary, and instantly readable from across a room. At left, an ink-splatter promo block announces the release date 12.22 (SAT) with the film’s title 「殺し屋1」 and period web address, while the stark tagline at lower right reads 「愛は、かなりイタイ。」 (“Love hurts… a lot.”) — a perfect distillation of the film’s sadistic romance-with-violence tone. The bottom credit line highlights the key names 浅野忠信 × 三池崇史 × 山本英夫 (Asano × Miike × Yamamoto), anchoring it firmly as original theatrical marketing.

Condition
Excellent overall. Please review the photos as they show the exact poster for sale.

It is over 24 years old!

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.