"Kikujiro", Original Japanese “Kitano Works DVD Series” Speed Poster 1999, Speed Size (26 × 73 cm) O273

This is an original Japanese speed-size shop/theatre poster from 1999 promoting Takeshi Kitano’s Kikujiro alongside the “Kitano Works” DVD Series. Printed in the tall, narrow format used for retail racks and lobby cases, speed posters were produced in much smaller quantities than standard B2s and were often discarded—surviving examples are scarce and highly collectible.

Film background
Written, directed by, and starring Takeshi Kitano, Kikujiro follows a gruff, petty tough who escorts a lonely boy on a sun-dappled, episodic summer odyssey. The film premiered in the Official Selection at the 52nd Cannes Film Festival and features a beloved, lyrical score by Joe Hisaishi (“Summer”). It remains one of Kitano’s most accessible, humane works—funny, tender, and quietly melancholic.

Poster design
Bright, sky-blue summer tones frame a close portrait of Kitano shielding his eyes from the sun, with the title 「菊次郎の夏」 rendered in textured yellow script over a green leaf motif. Copy announces the nationwide June roadshow. The lower two-thirds advertise the contemporaneous “北野武作品 DVDシリーズ” from Bandai Visual: HANA-BI, その男、凶暴につき (Violent Cop), 3-4x10月 (Boiling Point), あの夏、いちばん静かな海。 (A Scene at the Sea), ソナチネ, みんな〜やってるか！, and キッズ・リターン, with release dates and pack shots—making this a superb crossover piece for both Kikujiro and broader Kitano collectors.

Condition
Excellent condition. Please review the photos; they show the exact poster for sale.

This poster is an original Japanese speed-size display from the 1999 Bandai Visual campaign tied to Kikujiro’s theatrical release.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

It is over 26 years old!

Certificate of Authenticity included.