{"product_id":"a-wanderer-s-notebook-horoki-放浪記-original-release-japanese-movie-poster-1962-b2-size-51-73-cm-p217","title":"“A Wanderer’s Notebook” (放浪記 \/ Hōrōki), Original Japanese Release Movie Poster 1962, Very Rare, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) P217","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"224\" data-end=\"920\"\u003eThis is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster for \u003cstrong data-start=\"278\" data-end=\"303\"\u003eA Wanderer’s Notebook\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem data-start=\"305\" data-end=\"313\"\u003eHōrōki\u003c\/em\u003e \/ 放浪記), the major 1962 literary drama directed by \u003cstrong data-start=\"364\" data-end=\"380\"\u003eMikio Naruse\u003c\/strong\u003e, released in Japan by \u003cstrong data-start=\"403\" data-end=\"432\"\u003eToho on 29 September 1962\u003c\/strong\u003e. The film was adapted from the autobiographical writings of \u003cstrong data-start=\"493\" data-end=\"511\"\u003eFumiko Hayashi\u003c\/strong\u003e, with the screenplay drawing on both her source text and \u003cstrong data-start=\"569\" data-end=\"587\"\u003eKazuo Kikuta’s\u003c\/strong\u003e stage version, and stars \u003cstrong data-start=\"613\" data-end=\"632\"\u003eHideko Takamine\u003c\/strong\u003e in one of the defining performances of her career. The National Film Archive of Japan identifies it as a 123-minute black-and-white production and notes that this third film adaptation of \u003cem data-start=\"821\" data-end=\"829\"\u003eHōrōki\u003c\/em\u003e was realized after a proposal from Takamine herself. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"922\" data-end=\"1625\"\u003eThis is an important film in Japanese cinema, and widely regarded as one of the key works of Naruse’s late career. The story follows \u003cstrong data-start=\"1055\" data-end=\"1075\"\u003eFumiko Hayashi’s\u003c\/strong\u003e brutal early life: poverty, unstable work, difficult men, and relentless struggle — all endured while pursuing the seemingly impossible ambition of becoming a published writer. Japan Society describes the film as a powerful account of a poor merchant’s daughter determined to devote herself to literature despite class hardship, economic insecurity, and a deeply gendered society. That combination of literary biography, female resilience, and emotional realism is exactly why the film remains so admired today. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1627\" data-end=\"2278\"\u003eThe collaboration behind the film is part of what gives it such stature. \u003cstrong data-start=\"1700\" data-end=\"1716\"\u003eMikio Naruse\u003c\/strong\u003e is now firmly established as one of the great masters of classical Japanese cinema, and \u003cstrong data-start=\"1805\" data-end=\"1824\"\u003eHideko Takamine\u003c\/strong\u003e was among his most important collaborators. NFAJ notes that \u003cem data-start=\"1885\" data-end=\"1893\"\u003eHōrōki\u003c\/em\u003e, together with \u003cem data-start=\"1909\" data-end=\"1926\"\u003eFloating Clouds\u003c\/em\u003e, was one of the Naruse works to which Takamine felt the deepest attachment. Japan Society has also emphasized Naruse’s extraordinary sensitivity to women’s lives under modern Japanese social pressures, while BFI and other institutions have long placed Takamine among the essential screen faces of Naruse’s cinema. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2280\" data-end=\"2735\"\u003eThe film also carried major prestige at the time of release. The poster itself is marked \u003cstrong data-start=\"2369\" data-end=\"2387\"\u003e昭和37年度 芸術祭参加作品\u003c\/strong\u003e (“1962 Arts Festival participation work”), and contemporary Japanese sources identify it as one of Toho’s \u003cstrong data-start=\"2494\" data-end=\"2534\"\u003e30th anniversary commemorative films\u003c\/strong\u003e. That historical context matters: this was not an ordinary release, but a serious prestige picture positioned within the upper tier of studio-era Japanese cinema. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2737\" data-end=\"3702\"\u003eVisually, this poster is superb. The design is anchored by a large, haunting profile portrait of \u003cstrong data-start=\"2834\" data-end=\"2853\"\u003eHideko Takamine\u003c\/strong\u003e, rendered in a beautifully soft monochrome that perfectly suits the film’s melancholy emotional tone. Across the right side, the title \u003cstrong data-start=\"2989\" data-end=\"2996\"\u003e放浪記\u003c\/strong\u003e appears in bold, expressive \u003cstrong data-start=\"3025\" data-end=\"3044\"\u003ered calligraphy\u003c\/strong\u003e, creating a striking contrast against the black-and-white imagery. A series of still panels from the film runs across the centre and right, offering glimpses of hardship, intimacy, and daily struggle, while the lower section retains its full period sponsor advertising for \u003cstrong data-start=\"3318\" data-end=\"3345\"\u003eBashian Cocoa (バシアンココア)\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong data-start=\"3350\" data-end=\"3424\"\u003eNisshin Orange Juice \/ Fresh Soft Drink (ニッシン オレンヂジュース \/ フレッシュ ソーダラップ)\u003c\/strong\u003e — a highly characteristic and desirable feature of Japanese posters of this era, when such advertising was often used to offset printing and distribution costs. The result is an object that feels unmistakably of its time: commercial, cinematic, and culturally rich all at once.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3704\" data-end=\"4130\"\u003eThe left-side vertical text is especially poignant:\u003cbr data-start=\"3755\" data-end=\"3758\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"3758\" data-end=\"3786\"\u003e花のいのちはみじかくて 苦しきことのみ多かりき…\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"3786\" data-end=\"3789\"\u003eThis famous line is closely associated with \u003cstrong data-start=\"3833\" data-end=\"3851\"\u003eFumiko Hayashi\u003c\/strong\u003e, and Kotobank explains that it reflects her sense of life’s brevity and hardship, especially as experienced by women. Its inclusion here deepens the poster’s literary resonance and ties the design directly to Hayashi’s own image and legend. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4132\" data-end=\"4247\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"4132\" data-end=\"4145\"\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"4145\" data-end=\"4148\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"4148\" data-end=\"4247\"\u003eVery Good, cinema-used condition. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4249\" data-end=\"4899\"\u003eThis is an original unrestored example showing honest period use. Fold lines remain visible, as expected for a genuine 1960s Japanese theatrical poster, with light general creasing, handling wear, and some age-related toning visible on the reverse. There is also mild darkening and wear around the fold intersections, consistent with authentic cinema use and long-term storage. Importantly, the poster still presents extremely well: the black tones remain rich, the red title is vivid and strong, and the overall visual impact is excellent. This is not a mint example, but a very attractive and entirely genuine surviving B2 for a major Naruse title.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4249\" data-end=\"4899\"\u003eThis is an original Japanese theatrical poster from the film’s 1962 first-release campaign in Japan, \u003cstrong data-start=\"5021\" data-end=\"5043\"\u003enot a reproduction\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4249\" data-end=\"4899\"\u003eA Certificate of Authenticity is included.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4249\" data-end=\"4899\"\u003eIt is \u003cstrong data-start=\"5124\" data-end=\"5145\"\u003eover 60 years old\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Japan Poster Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56714591371642,"sku":null,"price":300.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0424\/8859\/4591\/files\/wall-shelf-with-ornaments-2026-03-22T173122.566.jpg?v=1774168557","url":"https:\/\/japanposter.co.uk\/products\/a-wanderer-s-notebook-horoki-%e6%94%be%e6%b5%aa%e8%a8%98-original-release-japanese-movie-poster-1962-b2-size-51-73-cm-p217","provider":"Japan Poster Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}