🖼️ About Japan Poster Shop

From Tokyo’s hidden archives to your walls—authentic Japanese movie posters, expertly sourced.

📍 Our Story

Tokyo-based. Japanese-owned. Built on trust since 2008.

Japan Poster Shop is a specialist dealer in original Japanese film posters and official cinema materials. Owner-operated by Max Fujiwara‑Lieven, we have been handling rare posters since 2008—serving museums, collectors, designers, and film lovers worldwide.

What began in a modest 18 sqm archive space in central Tokyo has grown into a dedicated 200 sqm office / warehouse and gallery in Shibuya, Tokyo. 

Japan Poster Shop has grown into one of the largest specialist Japanese poster galleries in the world.

Today, the Japan Poster Shop Collection includes 10,000+ original vintage and contemporary Japanese movie posters, including more than 300 rare works by Tadanori Yokoo—the largest available selection worldwide.

Our catalogue ranges from $100 to $50,000 USD, with museum-grade pieces across genres and eras—featuring titles from Godzilla and Akira Kurosawa to Studio Ghibli, James Bond, and Star Wars - including many ultra rare formats scarcely seen on the market.

“We’ve had both the A and B style posters for the original 1954 Godzilla—the undisputed holy grail of Japanese movie posters.”

🎨 What We Offer

We curate a wide range of authentic Japanese poster formats and cinema paper, including:

• Original Japanese movie posters (domestic and international versions where applicable)
• Anime & Studio Ghibli posters
• Graphic design & contemporary art posters
• Formats such as B2, B1, STB, tatekan, chirashi, chihoban, and B0 billboard pieces
• Ultra-Rare B0 Billboards and Chihoban Formats
• A substantial selection of Tadanori Yokoo works (300+ pieces in our archive, subject to availability)

Each item is original, carefully assessed, and clearly presented with detailed images. Framing support and international shipping are available on request.

✅ Authenticity, Condition, and Transparency

We sell original, officially issued Japanese cinema materials only—never reproductions, reprints, or modern copies.

Every poster is:

• Individually examined and described
• Presented with detailed photos and clear condition notes
• Packed to a museum standard for international delivery

🧾 A Certificate of Authenticity is included with every purchase.

Most posters are theatre-used and previously handled, and may show signs of age (folds, edge wear, pinholes, minor marks). We provide the photos and information needed for collectors to buy with confidence.

👤 Meet the Founder — Max Fujiwara-Lieven

Max Fujiwara‑Lieven is a bilingual Anglo‑Japanese collector and dealer who turned a lifelong obsession with Japanese posters into a specialist gallery business. Born in Tokyo and raised in London, Max combines Japanese service culture with clear English communication and international standards for accuracy, grading, and packing.

🇯🇵 Licensed Dealer in Japan

To legally buy and sell secondhand art commercially in Japan, businesses must hold a Secondhand Articles Dealer Permit (古物商許可).
We are a licensed dealer under Japanese law:

Permit No. 301002120195

🇯🇵 Deep Roots in Japan’s Poster Network

Japan has an official Union of Secondhand Bookstores, a tight-knit network of over 750 members, many of whom have been in operation since the 1920s.

We’ve built strong friendships with shop owners—many in their 60s and 70s—who now call us first when something rare surfaces. During COVID, we were honored to support struggling businesses by acquiring inventory when foot traffic disappeared.

🌍 Global Reach with Japanese Precision

We provide a "Japanese-style" service in perfect English:

• Fast, accurate communication
• Museum-grade grading & packaging
• Express global shipping via DHL (same or next business day dispatch)
• Certificate of Authenticity with every purchase

🏆 Rarities in Our Collection

• Godzilla (1954 & 1955) – Style A & B, Chihoban editions
• Dr. No / From Russia With Love / Goldfinger – Only known billboards in existence
• Seven Samurai (Teaser Poster) – c.10x rarer than the original release poster
• Empire Strikes Back (Withdrawn Concept Art) – ~12 known copies
• 2001: A Space Odyssey B0 – Ultra-scarce size and format
• The Hidden Fortress (1958) – Two-panel, only a few known copies, inspiration for Star Wars
• Tokyo Story (1953) B1 + size - Only known copy 
  
• Star Wars (1977) - Billboard Style A & B
  
  (Availability changes continuously—rare items often sell quickly.)
  

✨ Featured In

• SABUKARU Magazine – Feature on poster culture and design
  
• YouTube Viral Video – Linenbacking of our original Godzilla 1954 poster
• National Film Archive of Japan – Our Dr. No James Bond billboard was centerpiece of their exhibition

🛒 Start Your Collection

Whether you're a seasoned collector or a new admirer of Japanese design, we invite you to explore our catalog. Add a piece of cinematic history to your space—and own something that won’t come around again.

📦 Always Original. Never Reprint.

• No reproductions
• No reprints
• Just the real thing

🧾 Certificate of Authenticity included with every order.