“Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back”, Original First-Release ADVANCE Japanese Movie Poster 1980, Ultra Rare, Style A, Linen-Backed, B1 Size Approx. 73 × 103 cm / 29 × 40 in
This is an original Japanese advance poster, printed in 1980 for the first Japanese theatrical release of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back — Japanese title: スター・ウォーズ／帝国の逆襲 (Teikoku no Gyakushū). This is the exceptionally rare B1 “Advance” Style A format, produced prior to the film’s summer release and intended for early cinema promotion.
Directed by Irvin Kershner and starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, and James Earl Jones, The Empire Strikes Back is widely regarded as one of the defining sequels in cinema history. Darker, more operatic, and emotionally richer than its predecessor, the film expanded the mythology of Star Wars and introduced some of the saga’s most enduring characters, locations, and revelations.
Of all Japanese posters produced for The Empire Strikes Back, this B1 advance format is among the most elusive. The standard Japanese B2 version of this celebrated design is comparatively obtainable; the B1, however, was printed in far smaller numbers and used only for major theatrical display. Surviving examples are virtually absent from the market.
The design is one of the most striking Japanese teaser images for the film: a vast star field, a looming image of Darth Vader emerging from darkness, and the monumental red katakana title スター・ウォーズ projected in bold dimensional form across the lower half. Beneath it, the yellow subtitle 帝国の逆襲 announces the Japanese release title, while the English line “The Star Wars Saga Continues: The Empire Strikes Back” appears discreetly below.
A key feature of this advance poster is the top text: “STAR WARS シリーズ第2弾!”, translating to “STAR WARS Series No. 2!” This wording clearly identifies the poster as an early promotional piece, positioning the film as the second chapter in the saga before its full theatrical campaign.
Japanese B1 posters were produced in much smaller quantities than the standard B2 size and were intended for large-format display in cinema lobbies, major theatres, and transit advertising cases. Their size made them difficult to store, and many were folded, discarded, pasted, or damaged through display use. Finding this Advance Style A design in B1 format is extraordinarily difficult — a genuine holy-grail format for serious Star Wars collectors.
Advance B1s were printed once and meant for short-lead promotion, making them rarities today — especially linen-backed and in such remarkable condition.
We sent this poster from Tokyo to California, where it was professionally conservation linen-backed by Fourth Cone Restoration (one of the premier restoration studios in the field). Their meticulous work ensures the piece is stabilised and display-ready for future generations.
This is an important original Japanese theatrical poster from one of the most culturally significant films of the modern era. It is not a reproduction or a reprint — this is an original 1980 Japanese advance B1 movie poster.
It is over 46 years old!
Condition
Excellent. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
