“KING KONG 2 / キングコング2” (KING KONG LIVES), ORIGINAL JAPANESE B1 FIRST-RELEASE THEATRICAL POSTER 1986, RARE NORIYOSHI OHRAI ARTWORK, B1 SIZE (c. 72.8 × 103 cm)
Very Rare Original B1 Illustrated Design | Japanese First-Release Campaign | Artwork by Noriyoshi Ohrai | John Guillermin / Carlo Rambaldi | c. 72.8 × 103 cm / 28.7 × 40.6 in | Excellent Condition
An exceptional original Japanese B1 theatrical poster produced for the first Japanese release of King Kong 2 / キングコング2—released internationally as King Kong Lives—in 1986, featuring spectacular original artwork by legendary Japanese illustrator Noriyoshi Ohrai / 生賴範義.
At more than one metre tall, the rare B1 format gives Ohrai’s painting extraordinary presence. Kong towers beneath a vast full moon while helicopters, aircraft, soldiers, fire and smoke fill the landscape around him. His enormous figure dominates the composition, transforming the military assault below into something almost miniature by comparison.
The upper slogan reads:
「世界映画史上、最高のスーパーヒーローが帰ってくる!!」
“The greatest superhero in the history of cinema returns!!”
That wording is central to the Japanese campaign. Kong is presented not simply as a monster, but as a returning hero—embattled, protective and surrounded by overwhelming human force.
Original Japanese B2 examples of this design are already highly collectible, but the B1 theatrical printing is considerably rarer and far more imposing. This example survives in Excellent+ condition, unfolded and unbacked, with rich colour and exceptional display appeal.
A monumental original Japanese B1 combining one of cinema’s greatest creatures with the unmistakable painterly vision of Noriyoshi Ohrai.
The Film & Japanese Release
King Kong 2 is the direct sequel to Dino De Laurentiis’s 1976 King Kong and again places the character under the direction of John Guillermin.
The film reveals that Kong survived his fall from the World Trade Center and has remained in a coma for ten years. Dr. Amy Franklin, played by Linda Hamilton, develops an artificial heart capable of saving him, but the operation requires a compatible blood donor. The discovery of a female giant ape—Lady Kong—provides the answer and sets the story in motion.
Kong ultimately becomes not merely a destructive force but a protector, fighting to defend Lady Kong and their offspring against the military.
The film opened in Japan on 20 December 1986, with the Japanese campaign prominently presenting it as:
キングコング2
King Kong 2
The poster belongs to the original first-release campaign and carries period production credits, Dolby Stereo notation, the Eirin mark and the printed lower-right credit:
ILLUSTRATED BY NORIYOSHI OHRAI
Design Notes
Kong as the central figure: Kong occupies most of the composition, painted in deep blacks, violets and greys. His face and upper body emerge from the surrounding atmosphere with enormous weight.
The full moon: The vast pale moon directly behind his head acts almost like a halo, separating Kong from the blue-violet sky and giving the image a mythic quality.
The military assault: Helicopters, aircraft and soldiers fill the lower half of the image. Ohrai renders even the smaller military details with remarkable precision, creating a dense sense of scale and chaos.
The flowers: Kong holds foliage and flowers against his chest—an unusually tender detail within an otherwise violent composition, reflecting the film’s emotional focus on Lady Kong.
The colour: The upper half is cool and atmospheric, dominated by moonlit blues and greys, while the battlefield below burns in reds, oranges and black.
The Japanese title: The enormous white 「キングコング2」 lettering anchors the lower edge and balances the scale of Kong above.
The artist credit: The printed line “ILLUSTRATED BY NORIYOSHI OHRAI” appears at the lower right, confirming the artwork attribution.
Noriyoshi Ohrai
Noriyoshi Ohrai / 生賴範義 (1935–2015) was one of Japan’s most important commercial illustrators, renowned for his work across film posters, publishing, science fiction, military illustration and games.
Internationally, he became celebrated for his artwork for The Empire Strikes Back, while in Japan his association with Toho and Godzilla produced some of the most iconic kaiju poster imagery of the 1980s and 1990s.
This 1986 King Kong 2 design displays many of his greatest strengths: monumental scale, atmospheric light, military detail and the ability to organise an immense amount of visual information without losing clarity.
For an Ohrai collector, the combination of major monster subject, original 1980s theatrical issue and rare B1 format is particularly desirable.
The Japanese B1 Format & Rarity
The Japanese B1 format measures approximately 72.8 × 103 cm, around twice the printed surface area of the standard B2.
That scale matters enormously with Ohrai’s work. Fine details in Kong’s fur, the helicopters, soldiers, smoke and fire remain clearly visible, while the overall composition gains tremendous wall presence.
Original B1 examples of this design are substantially harder to source than the corresponding B2 and are especially difficult to find unfolded, unbacked and in strong condition.
This is an original 1986 Japanese B1 first-release theatrical poster for King Kong 2.
It is not a modern reproduction, decorative art print, later exhibition poster or commemorative reissue.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
A very rare original Japanese B1 from the first release of King Kong 2—Noriyoshi Ohrai’s monumental vision of Kong as returning hero, preserved in Excellent condition at the scale this extraordinary painting deserves.
