"An Autumn Afternoon", Original OFUNA TIMES (松竹映画宣伝部) exhibitor / lobby display press sheet 1962, B3 Size (36 x 51cm) (G)

AN AUTUMN AFTERNOON / 秋刀魚の味
Japan (Shochiku), 1962
Original OFUNA TIMES (松竹映画宣伝部) exhibitor / lobby display press sheet (B3)
Black‑and‑white photo montage with red spot‑colour typography on paper, cinema-used

A superb piece of Shochiku-era working publicity: an original OFUNA TIMES campaign sheet issued by the 松竹映画宣伝部 (Shochiku Film Publicity Department) for Yasujirō Ozu’s final film, Sanma no aji (An Autumn Afternoon / 秋刀魚の味). These large-format exhibitor sheets were made to be pinned up, handled, and replaced—and were typically discarded even more routinely than theatrical posters, which is exactly why surviving examples are so hard to find today.

This B3 is packed with period marketing signals: Arts Festival participation, full-colour billing (総天然色), a bold title panel, a striking publicity image of Ozu at the camera, and a collage of key stills plus an on-sheet cast/staff grid—an authentic, cinema-facing “campaign board” from 1962.

“A rare working artefact from Ozu’s last film—OFUNA TIMES paper that preserves exactly how Shochiku presented the release to theatres in 1962.”

What Is “OFUNA TIMES”?

OFUNA TIMES was a Shochiku publicity imprint associated with the studio’s Ōfuna operation—an exhibitor-facing format designed to help cinemas promote a new release with a single, information-dense sheet. Think of it as a lobby display + campaign bulletin in one: title typography, selling copy, stills, and cast/credits presented in a practical layout for real-world theatrical use.

Because these were working materials, they were commonly pinned up, removed, filed briefly (if at all), then discarded—making surviving originals far scarcer than standard posters.

Rarity and Market Context

Rarer than posters—true ephemeral survival
Even Japanese posters were routinely thrown away after short display runs. Sheets like this—produced for exhibitor utility rather than decoration—were often treated as disposable paper tools, and survival rates are extremely low.

Why collectors prize them
For serious Japanese cinema paper collections, OFUNA TIMES sheets are prized as archival campaign objects: they preserve not just the film, but the original studio-facing marketing strategy—imagery selection, cast emphasis, prestige framing (festival note), and colour billing—all in one period-authentic artefact.

Design and On-Sheet Content

This B3 is an outstanding example of Shochiku campaign design:

• Large central title panel: 秋刀魚の味 (with furigana) in bold white characters on black

• Prestige framing at the top: Arts Festival participation + “master Ozu” headline language

• Red spot-colour staff/cast grid (a classic exhibitor-sheet feature)

• A compelling upper-right publicity still of Ozu directing at the camera

• Multiple black-and-white stills arranged as a narrative collage (family interiors, formal moments, and key dramatic beats)

• OFUNA TIMES / 松竹映画宣伝部 imprint block at bottom right, including the studio publicity contact line

Text and Translation Notes

Below are key on-sheet texts and their English meanings as printed:

Top red line:
昭和三十七年度　芸術祭参加作品……名匠・小津安二郎監督作品
“1962 Arts Festival participation work… A film by master director Yasujirō Ozu.”

Main tagline:
爽やかな微笑と感動が、あなたの心を洗う本年随一の名作！
“A refreshing smile and emotion that cleanse your heart—this year’s standout masterpiece!”

Condition

Very good vintage condition for a cinema-used exhibitor sheet, with the expected characteristics of period distribution and handling:

• Original fold lines/creases (typical for how these were issued and stored)

• Light handling wear and minor edge/aging traces consistent with early-1960s paper ephemera

• Reverse is blank, showing fold structure and gentle age toning

Please review the provided photos — they show the exact item offered.

Certificate of Authenticity included.