“Only Yesterday” / 「おもひでぽろぽろ」, Original Japanese Soundtrack Promotional Poster 1991, Rare Special Size (59.5 × 84 cm) I347

This is an original Japanese promotional poster produced in 1991 for the official soundtrack release of Studio Ghibli’s Only Yesterday / 「おもひでぽろぽろ」.

Issued through Tokuma Japan Communications and Animage Records, this rare poster was printed in an unusual 59.5 × 84 cm format, making it appreciably larger than a standard Japanese B2 cinema poster.

Rather than using the film’s principal theatrical imagery, the design presents an intimate portrait of ten-year-old Taeko Okajima, the childhood self whose memories accompany the adult Taeko throughout the story.

Film background

Set primarily in 1982, Only Yesterday follows Taeko Okajima, a 27-year-old unmarried office worker living in Tokyo.

While travelling to rural Yamagata to assist with the safflower harvest, Taeko begins remembering incidents from her childhood in 1966: school friendships, family tensions, first love, embarrassment, ambition, and the expectations placed upon her as a young girl.

Her memories do not appear simply as nostalgic episodes. They accompany her journey as an active younger self, encouraging Taeko to reconsider the compromises she has made and the future she truly wants.

During her stay, she develops a connection with Toshio, a former city worker who has embraced organic farming and rural life. The contrast between Tokyo and Yamagata allows Taeko to confront whether she is living according to her own desires or merely following the path expected of her.

The film was written and directed by Isao Takahata, based on the manga by Hotaru Okamoto and Yuko Tone.

The principal creative credits include:

Executive Producer: Hayao Miyazaki
Producer: Toshio Suzuki
Character Design and Animation Direction: Yoshifumi Kondō
Music: Katz Hoshi

The principal Japanese voice cast includes:

Miki Imai as adult Taeko
Yōko Honna as young Taeko
Toshirō Yanagiba as Toshio

Only Yesterday is celebrated for its unusually naturalistic character animation, mature emotional perspective, and sensitive depiction of memory as something fluid, selective, and inseparable from adult identity.

Poster design

This exceptionally restrained design centres on a large portrait of young Taeko, shown against a nearly empty cream background.

She wears a red coat and a softly patterned yellow-and-green scarf, with a small red flower hairpin placed in her short dark hair. Her expression is gentle and quietly attentive, capturing the sensitivity and inward curiosity that define her childhood character.

A faint, warm sepia halo surrounds the portrait, giving the image the appearance of a memory gradually emerging from the blank surface.

The extensive open space is essential to the composition. Rather than presenting scenes from the narrative, the design isolates Taeko as a remembered presence—someone both distant and still emotionally alive within her adult self.

The vertical red tagline reads:

「私はワタシと旅にでる。」

Translated:

“I am setting out on a journey with myself.”

The wording contains an important visual distinction:

「私」 represents the adult Taeko, while 「ワタシ」, written in katakana, evokes her younger childhood self.

The line therefore expresses the central idea of the film: Taeko does not travel alone, but in the company of the girl she once was.

The title:

「おもひでぽろぽろ」

appears at the top in elegant blue hiragana.

The deliberately old-fashioned spelling 「おもひで」, rather than the modern 「おもいで」, contributes to the title’s nostalgic character. It suggests memories falling or trickling one after another, like tears or droplets.

The lower-left corner carries the Animage Records mark, confirming its purpose as a promotional poster for the film’s soundtrack release.

The illustration reflects the film’s refined character work under Yoshifumi Kondō and the understated visual sensibility of Isao Takahata’s production.

Rarity and format

This is not the standard theatrical B2 poster.

It was produced in the uncommon special size of approximately:

59.5 × 84 cm / 23.4 × 33.1 inches

Original Studio Ghibli soundtrack and Animage Records posters were distributed in far smaller numbers than regular theatrical advertising and were not intended for general retail sale.

The unusual format, minimal portrait design, and direct connection to the film’s original 1991 soundtrack campaign make this a particularly desirable piece for collectors of Studio Ghibli, Isao Takahata, Yoshifumi Kondō, Japanese animation, and vintage soundtrack ephemera.

Condition

Excellent condition. A highly attractive and well-preserved example, retaining clean cream areas, delicate character colour, crisp blue and red typography, and excellent overall display impact.

There are only light signs of age and handling consistent with an original Japanese promotional poster from this period.

Reference: I347.

Please review the photograph carefully, as it shows the exact poster for sale.

This is an original Japanese promotional poster produced for the film’s 1991 soundtrack release, not a reproduction or reprint.

It is now approximately 35 years old.

Certificate of Authenticity included.