“Sazen Tange and the Pot Worth a Million Ryō” (丹下左膳余話 百萬両の壺 / Tange Sazen yowa: Hyakuman ryō no tsubo) — original 1935 Nikkatsu release‑era film advertisement, with dramatic “tanto‑in‑the‑mouth” portrait
A striking survival of pre‑war (printed 91 years ago) Japanese cinema ephemera, designed to stop the eye: the front is dominated by an expressive close portrait of Tange Sazen—bloodied and bruised—biting down on a wrapped tanto. The image is rendered with bold shadow‑blocking and a limited palette that plays off a metallic gold ground and monumental title typography (“丹下左膳余話 / 百萬両の壺”). At upper right, a small monochrome female portrait provides a counter‑register of glamour and intrigue, while the central text block carries period release hype (e.g., “封切 忽ち満員”).
As printed on the piece: 監督・山中貞雄 (director Sadao Yamanaka) and 主演 大河内傳次郎 (starring Denjirō Ōkōchi), with additional supporting cast listed in vertical columns.
Film significance (why this title matters): Yamanaka’s film is a jidaigeki comedy built around a pot that seems worthless but contains a map to a million‑ryō fortune, setting off a cascading chase and social satire; it’s frequently likened to The Twelve Chairs‑type treasure‑hunt comedy structure.
Its reputation only grew with time: it is widely regarded as one of the key surviving works of Yamanaka’s brief career, ranked 7th in Kinema Junpō’s 2009 all‑time Japanese films poll, and was also listed among Akira Kurosawa’s 100 favorite films.
That legacy is underscored by modern preservation: the film received a 4K digitally restored “longest version” presentation at the Tokyo International Film Festival (2020), and Nikkatsu has promoted the restoration as a major revival of a respected classic.
Artist signature: signed in the image at lower left “T. Kumagai.” (No further attribution is printed on the piece; the signature is presented here as found.)
Verso: plain/utility reverse; the visual impact is concentrated on the illustrated front.
Condition: a genuine 1935 printed item—expect original fold lines and age‑appropriate wear/toning; please use the photos as the primary condition record.
