"EARLY SPRING" (早春), Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1956, Yasujirō Ozu, Ultra Rare, B2 Size (c. 51 x 68 cm) J184 (G)
EARLY SPRING / 早春
Japan (Shochiku), 1956
Original first-release Japanese theatrical poster (B2 c. 51 x 68 cm)
Colour-printed poster on paper, excellent condition
A major Yasujirō Ozu postwar drama in a form that almost never survives: the first-release Japanese B2 for Sōshun (Early Spring)—one of Ozu’s most quietly devastating studies of marriage, office life, and the emotional strain of postwar modernity.
Original Japanese theatrical paper for Ozu titles is notoriously scarce; but for Early Spring—a 1956 everyday-use cinema poster printed for display, handling, and eventual disposal—the survival rate is especially unforgiving. This example stands out for its exceptional overall presentation: strong, unfaded colour, crisp contrast, and superb display impact, all the more impressive considering its age.
“A first-release Japanese B2 for one of Ozu’s great postwar dramas—rare, visually striking, and increasingly hard to acquire in this level of condition.”
Key Facts
Film: Sōshun (Early Spring / 早春)
Director: Yasujirō Ozu（小津安二郎）
Studio: Shochiku（松竹）
Release: 1956 (Japan)
Screenplay credit (as printed): 脚本 野田高梧・小津安二郎 — “Screenplay: Kōgo Noda / Yasujirō Ozu”
Rarity and Market Context
Postwar Japanese B2s were made to be used—then thrown away
Japanese B2 posters were working theatrical tools: handled, transported, pinned, displayed, and routinely discarded once a programme changed. For a mid-1950s Ozu original, especially one with such bold portrait artwork and strong visual impact, finding a clean, complete, highly displayable example is increasingly uncommon.
Why this one matters
Collectors respond strongly to the overlap of:
(1) top-tier auteur + (2) true first-release Japanese paper + (3) key mature-period Ozu title + (4) outstanding visual presentation.
This poster lands squarely in the upper tier of desirable country-of-origin Japanese cinema paper.
Yasujirō Ozu and the Status of Early Spring
A major postwar Ozu—modern work, marriage, and emotional distance
Early Spring is one of Ozu’s most searching studies of the salaryman world: office routine, commuting, gossip, infidelity, and the quiet erosion of intimacy. Positioned between his early postwar masterworks and the celebrated late colour films, it stands as a crucial work from his mature black-and-white period.
The film: modernity in the office and the home
Set within the rhythms of everyday Tokyo life, Early Spring turns workplaces, commuter spaces, and domestic interiors into sites of subtle emotional pressure—one of Ozu’s defining strengths, and a major reason his cinema remains central to world film history.
The B2 Format
B2 is the classic Japanese theatrical poster size—the standard cinema wall sheet. But standard use is exactly why originals are scarce: they were not treated as collectibles in-period. A genuine first-release B2 for Early Spring is a highly sought-after object, especially when it retains strong colour, clean paper, and this level of overall freshness.
Poster Design: A Masterclass in Mid-1950s Japanese Studio Poster Aesthetics
This sheet is extraordinary not only for rarity, but for sheer graphic authority:
Monumental red title calligraphy: 早春 in oversized brushstroke red dominates the composition, creating immediate impact against the softer green ground.
Ensemble portrait structure: the multi-figure arrangement gives the poster a rich narrative feel, balancing glamour, drama, and emotional restraint in a way that perfectly suits Ozu.
Director branding: the vertical 名匠 小津安二郎 監督 (“Master director Yasujirō Ozu”) makes Ozu’s authorship itself part of the selling appeal.
Prestige studio presentation: dense red cast credits, elegant painted likenesses, and the 松竹映画 studio block combine to create a classic Shochiku prestige-drama poster design.
Text and Translation Notes
Below are key on-sheet texts and their English meanings as printed on the poster:
Main title: 早春 — “Early Spring” (Sōshun)
Furigana beneath title: そうしゅん — reading “Sōshun”
Director credit: 名匠 小津安二郎 監督 — “Master director Yasujirō Ozu”
Screenplay credit: 脚本 野田高梧・小津安二郎 — “Screenplay: Kōgo Noda / Yasujirō Ozu”
Studio block: 松竹映画 — “Shochiku Film”
Tagline (right side): 若い世代の愛情と悲哀を描く感動の名作！
“A moving masterpiece depicting the love and sorrow of the younger generation!”
Condition
Excellent vintage condition for its age, with remarkable overall display presence. Colours remain strong and well-preserved. The reverse shows typical show-through from the front image under light and retains small remnants/marks consistent with vintage mounting and display.
Please review the provided photos — they show the exact poster offered.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
