Japanese Movie Posters at Christie’s — 2026 Auction History
JAPAN POSTER SHOP · NEW YORK · MARCH & OCTOBER 2026
In 2026, Japan Poster Shop participated as an independent consignor in two Christie’s New York auctions of Japanese subculture, cinema and graphic art. These sales placed rare original Japanese film posters, large-format advertising and original published artwork within a broader collecting context.
This illustrated record documents the posters and artworks we consigned, the published auction results and their presentation in New York. It brings together the March and October 2026 events, with links to the original Christie’s catalogues and our individual case studies.
Original Japanese cinema posters from Japan Poster Shop’s collection on display at Christie’s New York, October 2026.
About the figures: The results below concern Japan Poster Shop’s consignments only, not the full Christie’s sales. “Price realised” includes the buyer’s premium, whereas the published estimates exclude it. Individual auction results are not automatic valuations of other examples of the same film.
2026 overview · March 2026 · October 2026 · Collecting context · Explore the gallery
2026 at a glance
March · Sale 24872
4 / 4
JPS film-poster lots sold
USD 36,957 combined price realised
October · Sale 25188
7 / 10
JPS lots sold
Posters and original artwork
Both auctions were part of Christie’s Anime Starts Here: Japanese Subculture Reimagines Tradition programme, held in New York. The March sale ran 18–31 March 2026, alongside Asian Art Week; the second online sale ran 9–22 October 2026.
Official March 2026 sale overview | Official October 2026 sale overview
March 2026 — Godzilla and the Japanese cinema poster
The first sale featured four original Japanese movie-poster lots from our collection. Among the featured works was an exceptional 1954 Godzilla first-release regional Style B, catalogued as a linen-backed chihōban poster. Its documented Christie’s price realised was USD 25,400.
Our other consignments included the original Japanese theatrical poster for Akira, a large three-sheet billboard created for the 1967 re-release of Seven Samurai, and an original Ghost in the Shell poster. All four sold, for a combined USD 36,957.
Godzilla (1954), rare regional Style B, presented at Christie’s in March 2026.
Seven Samurai, Japanese three-sheet billboard for the 1967 theatrical re-release.
March 2026 — complete JPS poster results
Lot 12
Godzilla (1954)
Original first-release Japanese regional Style B, linen-backed
Estimate: USD $20,000–30,000
Price realised: USD $25,400
Lot 16
Akira (1988)
Original Japanese theatrical poster
Estimate: USD $600–800
Price realised: USD $2,032
Lot 20
Seven Samurai (1967 re-release)
Original Japanese three-sheet theatrical billboard
Estimate: USD $6,000–8,000
Price realised: USD $7,620
Lot 28
Ghost in the Shell (1995)
Original Japanese theatrical poster
Estimate: USD $600–800
Price realised: USD $1,905
First-release status, regional distribution, poster construction, condition and documented provenance distinguish these objects from other posters advertising the same films. These characteristics are essential when interpreting the sale results.
Read the full March 2026 Godzilla case study · Christie’s March catalogue
October 2026 — Studio Ghibli, kaiju cinema and original art
Japan Poster Shop returned to Christie’s New York in October with ten lots, of which seven sold. The group ranged from early Japanese monster-film posters to a My Neighbor Totoro B1, an artist-designed large-format Mothra vs. Godzilla billboard, Akira theatrical advertising and original manga-related illustration.
Works from our consignment were installed in New York for the associated exhibition held 8–12 October 2026, allowing visitors to appreciate the differences in physical scale and presentation between printed posters, multi-sheet billboards and original artwork.
Godzilla Raids Again (1955), original Japanese first-release poster, October 2026 exhibition.
My Neighbor Totoro (1988), original Japanese B1 poster, exhibited in New York.
Leiji Matsumoto’s large-format Mothra vs. Godzilla (1980 re-release) design, displayed at Christie’s New York.
October 2026 — selected sold lots from the JPS consignment
The five results below are selected highlights from our seven sold lots; they are not a complete summary of all ten consigned works.
Lot 35
Godzilla Raids Again (1955)
Original first-release Japanese B2 theatrical poster
Estimate: USD $8,000–12,000
Price realised: USD $10,240
Lot 16
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
Original Japanese B1 theatrical poster
Estimate: USD $3,000–6,000
Price realised: USD $4,864
Lot 38
Mothra vs. Godzilla (1980)
Leiji Matsumoto-designed large-format poster for the re-release
Estimate: USD $3,000–5,000
Price realised: USD $4,096
Lot 43
Hiruta Mitsuru — Ultraman Ace (1978)
Original artwork for publication; not a printed movie poster
Estimate: USD $1,000–2,000
Price realised: USD $1,280
Lot 89
Akira (1988)
Original Japanese B2 theatrical poster
Estimate: USD $600–1,200
Price realised: USD $1,024
These examples demonstrate several different collecting categories. The Totoro result relates to a Japanese theatrical B1 poster, not to an original animation cel. Likewise, the Ultraman Ace entry concerns original artwork, rather than a printed cinema poster.
Akira poster designs displayed together during the October 2026 Christie’s exhibition.
Read the full October 2026 exhibition and auction case study · Christie’s October catalogue
Understanding Japanese movie poster auction results
An original film poster is not defined by its title alone. A first release, regional printing, theatrical reissue, advance poster and multi-sheet billboard may differ considerably in design, production history, print quantities, size and surviving condition. Original illustrations and production artwork are distinct from printed theatrical posters.
Christie’s published cataloguing provides a useful public reference, but individual results must be interpreted with the object’s provenance, paper, condition, conservation, release history and market context in mind. Auction estimates and prices realised should not be conflated.
For illustrated comparisons of Japanese poster formats, including B2, B1, STB Tatekan, B0 and oversized station-front billboards, explore the Japanese Movie Poster Size Guide.
What makes a poster historically significant?
For our gallery, the essential questions concern authenticity, issue, variant, condition, provenance and design. A fine copy of a scarce first-release poster may tell a different story from a much later reissue, even when both advertise the same celebrated film.
Explore the Japan Poster Shop collection
Japan Poster Shop is an independent specialist gallery in Tokyo, dealing in authentic original Japanese movie posters and graphic design. Browse available works by Godzilla and kaiju, Studio Ghibli, Akira Kurosawa, large-format Japanese billboards and rare and museum-grade posters.
Arrange a private viewing in Tokyo
Our gallery in Shibuya welcomes collectors by confirmed appointment. Viewings are prepared around specific films, artists or posters requested in advance. We are also happy to answer enquiries about original Japanese movie posters and collecting.
Request a private gallery appointment · Email Japan Poster Shop
Frequently asked questions
Were all of Christie’s 2026 auction lots from Japan Poster Shop?
No. Japan Poster Shop was one independent consignor. The 4/4 and 7/10 sold figures refer only to the consignments described above.
Are the works from these sales currently available at JPS?
The lots recorded as sold are historical sale examples, not currently available stock. Our collection pages show other original Japanese works subject to availability.
Does “price realised” mean hammer price?
No. Christie’s published price realised includes buyer’s premium; published estimates exclude it.
Independent editorial record: This page documents Japan Poster Shop’s consignments to Christie’s in March and October 2026. Japan Poster Shop is an independent business and is not owned by, affiliated with or endorsed by Christie’s. Christie’s and related names are trademarks of their respective owners. Exhibition photographs are presented from Japan Poster Shop’s archive; third-party image rights remain with their respective rights holders.
