“The Yakuza” (ザ・ヤクザ), Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1974, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) ZA771

This is an original Japanese B2 poster issued in Japan for the theatrical release of The Yakuza (1974), the hard-edged American-Japanese crime thriller directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Robert Mitchum and Ken Takakura, with Brian Keith and Keiko Kishi. Written by Paul Schrader and Robert Towne, the film is a rare, serious Hollywood engagement with the yakuza world—infused with moral gravity, codes of obligation, and a distinctly 1970s neo-noir chill. Takakura’s presence gives the film an authenticity and stoic power that elevates it far beyond standard genre fare, making it a key cross-cultural crime title and a particularly desirable Japanese poster subject.

Poster design

A stunning, design-forward Japanese one-sheet that feels closer to high-end graphic art than conventional film advertising. The composition is built around a bold, symmetrical “card” motif: Takakura and Mitchum appear locked in action at the top—gun and blade—while a central female figure holds a yellow rose, framed like an emblem of beauty amid violence. The surrounding decorative elements (including kendo-mask styling and stylised vignettes of pursuit and confrontation) reinforce a sense of ritual, honour, and danger. Across the bottom, the title 「ザ・ヤクザ」 slams in huge, blood-red brush lettering—an unforgettable typographic hit that makes this poster exceptionally frame-friendly. A true standout in Japanese 1970s crime-poster design.

Condition

Condition
Very Good / Excellent. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.

It is over 51 years old!

It is not a reproduction or a reprint. Certificate of Authenticity included.