“Gohatto” / “Taboo” (御法度), Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1999, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) Q224
This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed in 1999 for the first domestic release of Gohatto / 御法度, directed and written by Nagisa Oshima.
Released internationally as Taboo, Gohatto is one of the most important Japanese films of the late 1990s and the final feature film by legendary director Nagisa Oshima. Set in Kyoto in 1865, during the final years of the Tokugawa shogunate, the film explores the tense and highly disciplined world of the Shinsengumi, whose internal order begins to fracture when a strikingly beautiful young swordsman joins their ranks.
The film stars Ryuhei Matsuda in his screen debut, alongside Beat Takeshi / Takeshi Kitano, Tadanobu Asano, Shinji Takeda, and Yoichi Sai. Its themes of desire, jealousy, repression, discipline, and violence make it one of the most psychologically charged samurai films of the modern era.
The poster features a beautifully composed dual-tone design. The upper half presents a cool-toned portrait trio of the younger central characters, with Ryuhei Matsuda placed prominently in the middle, flanked by Tadanobu Asano and Shinji Takeda. Beneath them, the lower half shifts into a warm amber palette, showing senior Shinsengumi figures in a more reflective and ominous register, including Beat Takeshi and Yoichi Sai.
Across the centre appears the film’s haunting tagline:
「わたしが狂っているのか？」
“Am I the one who is going mad?”
This chilling line perfectly captures the film’s atmosphere of psychological unease, suppressed desire, and destabilising obsession.
The lower portion is anchored by the large gold title GOHATTO, together with the Japanese title 御法度, giving the poster a stately and elegant visual balance.
About the film
Gohatto marked Nagisa Oshima’s return to feature filmmaking after a 13-year hiatus, and ultimately became his final film. Adapted from stories by Ryotaro Shiba, it is a rare and sophisticated blend of period drama, psychological tension, and queer subtext, set within one of the most mythologised institutions in Japanese history.
The film was widely admired for its visual refinement, its score by Ryuichi Sakamoto, and its costume design by Emi Wada. It premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, further cementing its international stature.
For collectors of Beat Takeshi, this poster is especially desirable. Kitano plays Hijikata Toshizo, the cool and intelligent vice-commander of the Shinsengumi, delivering one of his most restrained and memorable performances of the period.
Why collectors prize this example
Original 1999 first-release poster: printed for the film’s initial Japanese theatrical campaign.
Final feature by Nagisa Oshima: an essential title from one of Japan’s greatest directors.
Major Beat Takeshi appearance: a key later-career supporting role in an internationally acclaimed art-house film.
Striking and elegant design: the cool/warm split imagery and large gold title create one of the most refined Japanese posters of the era.
Important modern samurai film: a standout piece for collectors of Japanese cinema, Beat Takeshi, Nagisa Oshima, and 1990s art-house film posters.
Condition
This poster is in excellent condition.
It presents beautifully, with strong colour, clean imagery, and excellent overall visual impact. Please refer carefully to the imagery, as this is the exact poster that is for sale.
It is over 25 years old!
It is not a reproduction and not a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
