Original Japanese Yasujirō Ozu Movie Posters

Yasujirō Ozu (小津 安二郎, 1903–1963) is universally recognised as one of the greatest directors in the history of cinema. Celebrated for his extraordinary sensitivity to family relationships, generational change, and the quiet complexities of everyday life, Ozu developed a distinctive cinematic language characterised by restrained compositions, low camera angles, and profound emotional depth. His masterpieces include Late Spring (1949), Early Summer (1951), Tokyo Story (1953), Early Spring (1956), Tokyo Twilight (1957), Floating Weeds (1959), and An Autumn Afternoon (1962).

The Yasujirō Ozu collection is one of the most important areas of Japan Poster Shop’s inventory, encompassing an extensive selection of original Japanese theatrical posters from across the director’s remarkable career. Our holdings include exceptionally rare first-release posters from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, alongside later theatrical reissues and alternative designs.

Among the collection’s most significant pieces is an original Japanese first-release B1 poster for Tokyo Story (東京物語, 1953), one of the most celebrated films ever made. This extraordinary large-format poster is, to the best of our knowledge, the only surviving example of its particular design and format currently known to us. Its combination of cinematic importance, historical significance, and exceptional rarity makes it a particularly important piece of Japanese film memorabilia.

The collection also includes original theatrical material for other celebrated Ozu films, reflecting the breadth of his work and the evolution of Japanese film advertising during the Shōwa era.

Original first-release Ozu posters are among the rarest and most historically significant examples of Japanese cinema ephemera. Produced primarily for temporary theatrical exhibition, relatively few examples have survived, particularly in larger formats or exceptional condition. Many of these posters are now more than seventy years old, and important first-release examples seldom appear on the public market.

Japanese theatrical posters from Ozu’s lifetime are particularly admired for their elegant portrait photography, refined typography, subtle colour palettes, and distinctive period compositions. Beyond their appeal as film memorabilia, these original works provide a remarkable visual record of Japanese graphic design, popular culture, and cinema during the mid-twentieth century.

Our collection encompasses B2 theatrical posters, exceptionally scarce B1 large-format examples, and other original promotional formats, including pieces of museum-grade significance. Alongside these important first releases, we offer later theatrical reissues and more accessible examples, allowing collectors to explore Ozu’s extraordinary legacy across different periods and price points.

From the enduring humanity of Tokyo Story to the quiet beauty of Late Spring and An Autumn Afternoon, this collection represents an important part of Japan Poster Shop’s commitment to preserving and presenting the history of Japanese cinema through its original theatrical artwork.

Each poster is carefully catalogued by Japan Poster Shop, with particular attention to authenticity, release history, condition, format, and rarity.