“2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY / 2001年宇宙の旅”, ORIGINAL JAPANESE B1 THEATRICAL RE-RELEASE POSTER 2001, “NEW CENTURY SPECIAL EDITION”, RARE B1 SIZE (c. 72.8 × 103 cm)
An original Japanese B1 theatrical re-release poster for Stanley Kubrick’s landmark science-fiction film 2001: A Space Odyssey / 2001年宇宙の旅.
This poster was issued for the film’s Japanese “New Century Special Edition” / 新世紀特別版 theatrical revival in 2001, when the calendar year finally reached the date imagined by Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke in their 1968 film.
The distinctive design combines two of the film’s defining images: the glowing Starchild looking towards Earth and Space Station V, with the Orion III spacecraft approaching to dock. These images are presented in a wide horizontal panel against a predominantly black background, above the large, sharply angled Japanese title typography.
This composition is a distinctive design produced for the Japanese B1 campaign and is considerably less commonly encountered than standard Japanese B2 posters and smaller promotional material. At approximately 72.8 × 103 cm, the B1 format has substantial visual presence. In over a decade, we have handled several hundred B2 size 1978 re-release posters, we have only handled 1 other B1 size poster for this special 2001 re-release.
The poster carries the Japanese tagline:
それは、未だ究極の旅
“It remains the ultimate journey.”
A rare, cinema-used Japanese B1 poster for one of the most important science-fiction films ever made, retaining an excellent overall display appearance.
Key Facts
Film: 2001: A Space Odyssey / 2001年宇宙の旅
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Screenplay: Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke
Country of poster origin: Japan
Original film year: 1968
Poster and re-release year: 2001
Edition: New Century Special Edition / 新世紀特別版
Format: Original Japanese theatrical re-release poster
Size: B1 — c. 72.8 × 103 cm / 28.7 × 40.6 in
Printing: Single-sided, with an unprinted reverse
Condition: Very Good+ to Excellent overall — cinema-used, with a repaired tear at the bottom edge
Rarity: Rare B1 format with a distinctive campaign design
The 2001 Japanese Re-Release
The poster was produced for the Japanese theatrical revival staged during the actual year 2001, giving the re-release particular historical significance. The campaign revisited Kubrick’s vision of space travel, artificial intelligence and human evolution at the moment contemporary audiences reached the date used in the film’s title.
The boxed Japanese text identifies the presentation as:
新世紀特別版
“New Century Special Edition.”
The technical text beneath advertises:
デジタル・リミックス・サウンド、スコープ・サイズ［70mm再現比率］
This refers to a digitally remixed soundtrack and a widescreen scope presentation intended to reproduce the proportions of the original 70mm theatrical experience.
Design Notes
The upper image panel summarises the two contrasting sides of the film’s visual world.
On the left, the Starchild appears suspended above the glowing curve of Earth, representing the film’s final stage of human transformation. On the right, Space Station V and the approaching Orion III spacecraft represent the technological achievements of humanity’s journey into space.
The large Japanese title 2001年宇宙の旅 dominates the lower half of the poster, with the English title 2001: a space odyssey printed beneath in grey. The use of white and grey typography against the black background gives the design a restrained and immediately recognisable appearance.
The yellow-highlighted words 究極の旅 — “the ultimate journey” — provide the principal colour accent in the upper tagline.
Rare B1 Format
This is the large Japanese B1 theatrical format, measuring approximately 72.8 × 103 cm. B1 posters have twice the surface area of the standard Japanese B2 format and were intended for prominent cinema display.
The design is associated with this large-format Japanese re-release campaign and is not the commonly seen international one-sheet artwork. Surviving B1 examples are substantially less frequently encountered than Japanese chirashi handbills, commercial prints and smaller-format theatrical material.
Condition Report
Very Good+ to Excellent overall condition.
This is a cinema-used example and displays very well, retaining rich black areas, strong image colour, clear typography and good overall definition. The central artwork and large title remain visually strong, and the poster has an excellent appearance when viewed normally on display.
There are light surface scuffs, scratches, handling marks and minor impressions visible across portions of the black background. Some light edge and corner wear is also present, together with small nicks, short edge tears and abrasions, principally along the lower border.
There is a tear at the bottom edge that has been repaired with tape on the reverse. This is an older repair and was not carried out by us. The tape remains visible on the blank verso, together with several smaller pieces of tape along the lower edge. The repair is localised and does not significantly interrupt the main artwork or title.
Despite the localised lower-edge damage and repair, the poster presents superbly overall and can reasonably be described as Very Good+ to Excellent in display appearance. The tear, tape repair and other evidence of use have been fully taken into account in the condition assessment and pricing.
This is the exact poster shown in the photographs.
Authenticity Statement
This is an original official Japanese B1 theatrical re-release poster for Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, produced for the film’s 2001 New Century Special Edition revival.
It is not a modern reproduction, decorative reprint or later commercial poster. The original Japanese theatrical credits, Warner Bros. and Turner Entertainment markings, campaign website and New Century Special Edition presentation details are printed along the lower section.
A rare Japanese cinema poster in the substantial B1 format, featuring a distinctive 2001 revival design and offered in accurately described Very Good+ to Excellent overall condition.
