The Hidden Fortress” (隠し砦の三悪人), 1958 Japanese B2 Poster (First Release, Head Office Style), Ultra Rare, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) (GA)
This is an original Japanese B2 poster issued in Japan for the first release (1958) of Akira Kurosawa’s landmark TohoScope adventure The Hidden Fortress (隠し砦の三悪人). This is the sought-after “Head Office” (honsha) style—the primary studio-issued design associated with Toho’s national campaign—featuring the bold gold brush-calligraphy title, the TOHO SCOPE banner, and the prestigious 「文部省特選」 (“Selected by the Ministry of Education”) designation at the top.
A cornerstone of world cinema and one of Kurosawa’s most influential films, The Hidden Fortress is famously cited as a major inspiration for filmmakers worldwide—most notably George Lucas, whose Star Wars drew directly from Kurosawa’s storytelling approach (particularly the “low-status viewpoint” structure and the princess-on-the-run adventure framework), in the same way many Kurosawa films have shaped modern blockbuster language.
Film background
Kurosawa’s widescreen epic follows two quarrelsome peasants who stumble into an escape mission across hostile territory—unwittingly helping a disguised princess and her formidable protector smuggle their cause (and concealed treasure) to safety. It’s a film of momentum and invention: comedy and peril braided together with Kurosawa’s unmatched sense of movement, geography, and spectacle.
Beyond its importance within Kurosawa’s own filmography, The Hidden Fortress is a pivotal bridge between classical adventure cinema and the modern pop-myth blockbuster—its DNA echoed in later directors’ work, with Lucas and Star Wars being the most widely discussed example.
Poster design
This Head Office B2 is pure Japanese theatrical impact: a sweeping field of sky and rugged terrain becomes the stage for a dynamic action montage, anchored by an explosive, sword-raised central figure and a poised heroine in mid-stance—both framed against distant cavalry and mountainous horizons. The design’s most striking element is the towering gold brushstroke title running vertically down the left side—calligraphy scaled like a banner—balanced by the clean vertical declaration 「黒澤明監督作品」 (“A film by Akira Kurosawa”) in vivid red at right.
At the top, the green TOHO SCOPE mark signals the film’s widescreen prestige, while 「文部省特選」 adds an unusually authoritative stamp of cultural recognition—an exceptional combination of pop appeal and institutional imprimatur on a single sheet.
Rarity and condition
First-release Kurosawa paper—especially true studio Head Office designs—was produced for theatrical use, displayed hard, and routinely discarded, making surviving examples scarce. This title is also heavily reproduced, and authentic 1958 originals are increasingly difficult to source in presentable condition.
This example has received professional Japanese conservation and washi backing for long-term stability and display. Conservation was carried out using traditional, museum-aligned Japanese methods commonly valued for material safety and reversibility, typically employing kōzo-fiber washi and wheat starch paste so that future conservators can undo the work if ever required. The backing reinforces folds and any vulnerable areas while keeping the sheet flexible rather than brittle, resulting in a flatter, stronger poster that still respects the original paper.
Condition: Excellent on conservation washi backing. Colours remain richly saturated with strong contrast. The original central fold is now cleanly supported and presents smoothly; minor edge stress and small handling traces typical of a hung transit poster have been stabilized by conservation. Light, normal age-appropriate toning is limited to the verso (as expected for Showa-era paper). Overall presentation is crisp, vibrant, and ready to frame. Please review the provided photos (front and back) — they show the exact poster offered.
There are many reproductions of this poster and rest assured this is 100% an original.
Many of our items are sourced across Japan, often privately, as our owner is Japanese and has an extensive network across Japan of dealers and collectors developed over almost ten years.
It is over 60 years old.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
