“Akira Club” (アキラクラブ), Rare Original Japanese B3 Promotional Poster 1995, B3 Size (c. 36 × 51 cm) ZA518
This B3 “Akira Club” poster is far rarer than the standard 1988 Japanese B2 theatrical poster. Produced by Kodansha / Young Magazine in 1995 as a non‑sale promotional item for the deluxe art book Akira Club and Young Magazine’s 15th anniversary, it appears to have been issued only in small numbers for book‑store display and via a limited mail‑in questionnaire campaign. Our detailed research in Japan show just a handful of sales over many years—often described as “super rare” by local sellers—while original B2 movie posters trade regularly in comparison. With Akira’s cultural impact still growing and new generations discovering the series, this scarce mid‑’90s promo has become a genuinely hard‑to‑find piece of Otomo history.
Akira itself – both the 1982–1990 manga and the 1988 feature film – is now regarded as one of the most influential works in modern science fiction and animation, a landmark of Japanese cyberpunk whose explosive vision of Neo‑Tokyo helped transform global perceptions of anime and opened the door for Japanese popular culture in the West. More than forty years after its debut, its cult following, constant reissues and new editions mean many fans argue that Akira is more popular now than ever. This limited Akira Club shop poster, printed in much smaller numbers than the regular theatrical movie posters, reflects that ongoing legacy and is significantly scarcer on the market.
Design
The B3 design is a dense, electrifying collage that reads like a visual history of Akira. Panels and vignettes from across the manga blast out from a concrete‑grey background: Kaneda astride his red bike, Tetsuo in various stages of psychic awakening, the Espers, explosions ripping through Neo‑Tokyo, military hardware, pills, psychic eruptions and intimate character moments. Finished colour art, rougher inks and partially uncoloured line work are all layered together, giving the piece the feel of a working artist’s wall plastered with reference clippings and story beats.
Towards the lower centre a stark black silhouette of a child ringed by flying debris anchors the composition, overprinted with the English line: “AKIRA is Epic Comics’ entry into the world of Japanese comics, adapting the works of Katsuhiro Otomo.” Just below, the familiar AKIRA logo in red caps the tribute to the manga’s international success. Running down the right side is a vertical stone‑textured band with bold yellow 「アキラクラブ」 titling and the red callout 「ヤングマガジン創刊15周年記念出版!!」 (“Young Magazine 15th Anniversary Commemorative Publication!!”), tying the art back to the special volume. At the bottom right, a bright sales block announces 「定価3500円(税込)／オールカラー264P／講談社」, highlighting the all‑colour 264‑page, ¥3,500 book. The result is a poster that feels both celebratory and archival – a visual shrine to Otomo’s world‑building and to Akira’s cross‑media impact.
Condition
Very Good / Excellent (folded, as issued). Please review the photos – they show the exact poster for sale. Original machine folds into quarters with light fold wear and minor stress lines in the darker ink areas; a small strip of old tape on the verso reinforces part of the horizontal fold (no paper loss, not visible from the front). Light handling, a few small wrinkles and impressions from storage, and very minor edge wear. The paper remains strong, and colours are rich and saturated – the reds, yellows and neons of Neo‑Tokyo still pop beautifully in person.
It is 30 years old.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
