“Circus Boys” / 「二十世紀少年読本」, Original First Release Japanese Movie Poster 1989, B1 Size (71 × 103 cm) HA41
This is an original Japanese B1 theatrical poster printed in 1989 for the first release of Circus Boys / 「二十世紀少年読本」, directed by Kaizō Hayashi and starring Hiroshi Mikami.
A particularly distinctive and visually sophisticated design, this large-format poster is one of the most memorable Japanese film posters of the late 1980s, combining retro-carnival styling with the film’s poetic, surreal sensibility.
Film background
Released in 1989, Circus Boys is a dreamlike, black-and-white Japanese drama centred on two brothers whose lives are shaped by the world of the travelling circus. One remains bound to spectacle and performance, while the other moves outward into a harsher, more ambiguous world, leading ultimately to reunion and reckoning.
Directed by Kaizō Hayashi, the film is widely admired for its visual invention, evocation of silent cinema, and its lyrical treatment of performance, memory, and modernity. The poster itself notes the film’s festival prestige, identifying it as an invited work at both the 1989 Montreal International Film Festival and the 1989 Chicago International Film Festival, firmly placing it within its original 1989 release window.
Poster design
This B1 poster is exceptionally striking. Set against a vivid mint-green background, it is framed by an elegant decorative border that recalls vintage circus bills and early 20th-century fairground graphics. Across the top arches the title 「二十世紀少年読本」 in large, stylised lettering, creating the feel of a theatrical proscenium or carnival banner.
At the lower centre sits a sharply rendered black-and-white portrait of Hiroshi Mikami, dressed in a flat cap and overcoat, emerging before a large white crescent form that anchors the composition. Surrounding him is a whimsical constellation of performers and attractions—a strongman, elephant, twins, acrobats, clowns, a fire-eater, and other circus figures—each presented as cutout vignettes with tiny English captions, reinforcing the poster’s playful yet highly controlled design language.
The overall effect is both nostalgic and modern: part circus broadside, part art-film collage, and wholly memorable.
Format note
This is a B1 poster measuring approximately 71 × 103 cm, a large-format display size used for prominent theatrical presentation. The scale greatly enhances the graphic impact of this design.
Condition
Excellent / near mint condition. Please review the photographs carefully, as they show the exact poster for sale.
This is an original 1989 Japanese theatrical poster.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
It is now over 35 years old.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
