THE FLAVOR OF GREEN TEA OVER RICE (お茶漬の味 / Ochazuke no Aji) – Original 1952 Japanese “Speed” Poster / Press Sheet (Shōchiku Eiga Press No. 252) – Yasujirō Ozu – Circa 24 × 52 cm
An original Japanese “speed size” promotional sheet for Yasujirō Ozu’s The Flavor of Green Tea over Rice (お茶漬の味 / Ochazuke no Aji), issued by Shōchiku in the film’s original release era (1952).
This is a scarce exhibitor-style publicity / press piece from Shōchiku Eiga Press (松竹映画プレス) No. 252, produced for cinema promotion and filled with period graphics, cast portraits, credits, production text, and editorial-style advertising. Pieces of this kind were made for practical promotional use and were not intended to survive in large numbers, making them especially appealing to collectors of early Japanese studio ephemera.
About the Film (The Flavor of Green Tea over Rice)
Released in 1952, The Flavor of Green Tea over Rice is one of Ozu’s most subtle and perceptive postwar domestic dramas, centred on a married couple whose relationship has grown strained through differences in temperament, class background, and outlook. Beneath its quiet surface, the film explores marital distance, social pretension, modern urban life, and the possibility of reconciliation through simplicity and honesty.
The title refers to the humble dish ochazuke—rice with green tea poured over it—which becomes a quietly powerful symbol within the film: unpretentious, familiar, and deeply Japanese. In Ozu’s hands, such a modest everyday reference becomes the emotional key to the work itself.
With its restrained compositions, low camera height, measured pacing, and extraordinary sensitivity to domestic behaviour, the film stands as an important work in Ozu’s postwar career and a highly desirable title for collectors of serious Japanese cinema material.
This double-sided piece features The Flavor of Green Tea over Rice prominently:
Front (colour): A striking photo-illustrated design with large portraits of Shin Saburi and Michiyo Kogure, the title お茶漬の味 in a bold red-pink title panel, the Shōchiku logo, cast billing, and additional supporting cast portraits arranged along the lower section. The design has excellent period character and strong visual presence despite the modest format.
Reverse (black, white and red): A dedicated press-feature layout with film stills, extensive Japanese text, credits, character illustrations, and promotional copy, presenting the film as a major new Ozu production. The issue number 松竹映画プレス No. 252 appears at lower right.
Note: As was typical for this kind of exhibitor press / promotional sheet, the design combines advertising copy, cast and staff details, still photography, and article-style studio promotion on the same paper. These elements are part of the original and authentic publication format.
Film: The Flavor of Green Tea over Rice (お茶漬の味 / Ochazuke no Aji)
Director: Yasujirō Ozu
Country of Origin: Japan
Studio / Publisher: Shōchiku / Shōchiku Eiga Press (松竹映画プレス)
Issue Number: No. 252
Year: 1952 (original release year / original campaign-era piece)
Format: Original Japanese speed poster / press sheet, double-sided
Size: c. 24 × 52 cm (approx. 9.4 × 20.5 in)
Authenticity: Original vintage printing — not a reproduction
This is a genuine vintage paper item from the early 1950s. It presents very well for its age, with typical age and handling wear consistent with an exhibitor-use promotional sheet, including light toning, original folds / creases, minor edge wear, and small circular holes / marks visible in the photos.
Condition
Very Good / Excellent. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.
It is over 74 years old!
