Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (スター・ウォーズ／ジェダイの復讐) ultra-rare 8-up uncut printer’s proof / press sheet for Japanese B5 chirashi, Japan, 20th Century Fox / Lucasfilm, 1983, (c. 53 × 77 cm) Q77
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (スター・ウォーズ／ジェダイの復讐) ultra-rare 8-up uncut printer’s proof / press sheet for Japanese B5 chirashi, Japan, 20th Century Fox / Lucasfilm, 1983, c. 53 × 77 cm
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (スター・ウォーズ／ジェダイの復讐)
Ultra-rare 8-up uncut printer’s proof / press sheet, Japan, 20th Century Fox / Lucasfilm, 1983
An exceptional uncut Japanese printer’s sheet from the original theatrical campaign for Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, preserving eight identical B5 chirashi impressions before trimming. Printed in full colour to the front and monochrome to the reverse, the sheet survives with its original technical margins, crop/registration marks and colour-control bars—features normally removed during production and rarely retained in finished cinema advertising.
The film opened theatrically in Japan on 2 July 1983 through 20th Century Fox, under the Japanese subtitle ジェダイの復讐. Although the English release title had become Return of the Jedi, the Japanese campaign retained the “Revenge” wording; the title was later standardised in Japan as ジェダイの帰還 for the 2004 trilogy DVD release.
What this is
This is an 8-up uncut printer’s proof / press sheet: a production-format sheet carrying eight B5 chirashi designs arranged for mechanical trimming. Standard Japanese chirashi are generally B5 movie flyers, approximately 18 × 26 cm, often printed as double-sided single sheets; the present object, at c. 53 × 77 cm, retains the larger printer’s format and the surrounding technical areas rather than having been cut down for cinema distribution.
The sheet is double-sided. The recto presents eight repeated impressions of the red “THE SAGA CONTINUES.” artwork, with Darth Vader dominating the composition and the lightsaber duel placed against a blue-pink galactic field. The verso repeats the corresponding monochrome chirashi reverse, with film synopsis, cast and staff credits, still photography and promotional text.
Film background
Directed by Richard Marquand, with story by George Lucas and screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas, Return of the Jedi concluded the original Star Wars trilogy, bringing together the rescue of Han Solo, the battle over Endor, the second Death Star, and Luke Skywalker’s final confrontation with Darth Vader and the Emperor. Lucasfilm describes the film as the “epic conclusion to the classic trilogy.”
Poster design and Japanese campaign significance
The front design corresponds to the Japanese 映画チラシB 表面 version recorded in Japanese chirashi archives: the red-and-black Vader composition with the English line “THE SAGA CONTINUES.” and the Japanese title スター・ウォーズ／ジェダイの復讐 below.
Condition
Excellent overall for an uncut production sheet of this type. The colour side remains strong and visually striking, with deep reds, blacks and blue-pink highlights retaining excellent display presence. The untrimmed margins show extremely minor and expected production and handling evidence, including light age toning, soft creasing/rippling, minor edge and corner wear, and small handling marks. The monochrome reverse shows light overall toning and handling consistent with age and format.
Please refer to the accompanying front-and-back photographs of the exact item offered.
Rarity and collector significance
Japanese B5 chirashi were ephemeral cinema handouts, intended for mass distribution rather than preservation. This sheet is materially different: it preserves the advertising object at the production stage, before guillotining, with the printer’s margins and technical marks intact.
Uncut printer’s sheets of this nature were working materials, typically cut, discarded or retained only briefly for checking. Their survival offers a rare view into the physical production of Japanese theatrical advertising during the first-release campaign for one of the defining films of the original Star Wars trilogy.
A highly unusual and visually commanding piece for the advanced Star Wars collector: at once a Japanese theatrical-release artefact, a printer’s production object, and a striking repeated-image display sheet.
Authenticity
Offered as an original period Japanese printer’s proof / uncut press sheet for the 1983 theatrical release campaign. The double-sided 8-up layout, visible crop and registration marks, colour bars, period Lucasfilm copyright line, and matching Japanese B5 chirashi artwork support its identification as an original production sheet rather than a later reproduction.
It is over 43 years old!
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
