This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed in 1973 for the first film in Kinji Fukasaku’s era-defining yakuza saga, Battles Without Honor and Humanity (仁義なき戦い). A landmark of Japanese cinema, the film detonated the genre by replacing romanticised “ninkyō” myth with a harsh, semi-documentary portrayal of postwar Hiroshima—fractured loyalties, political opportunism, and violence as a form of everyday economics.
Design
This highly distinctive design is widely known among collectors as the “Crow and Cat” (or simply “Crow” / カラス) variant—an experimental, metaphor-driven poster concept used alongside more conventional actor-focused campaign designs.
A flock of stark white birds tears across a black sky, while a prowling cat and a lone figure in the darkness create a predatory, street-level atmosphere—imagery that feels closer to an art poster than a standard yakuza one-sheet. In the context of the film’s postwar landscape, the crow reads as a scavenger after battle—an emblem of those who thrive in the aftermath—while the cat sharpens the sense of survivalism and opportunism that defines the series’ worldview. The composition is anchored by the vivid, spray-like title 「仁義なき戦い」, with a vertical strip of cast portraits at left that reinforces the film’s dossier-like, documentary tone.
Condition
Excellent (close to near mint). Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale. Some very minor signs of long-term storage may be present on the reverse (only noticeable on close inspection). We have taken this into account when pricing.
This poster is an original Japanese theatrical B2 from the 1973 first-release campaign.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
It is over 53 years old!
Certificate of Authenticity included.
