“Battles Without Honor and Humanity” (仁義なき戦い), Original Release Japanese Speed Poster 1973, Speed Poster Size (26 × 73 cm) N48 A

This is an original Japanese speed poster printed in 1973 for the first Japanese theatrical release of Battles Without Honor and Humanity (仁義なき戦い), directed by Kinji Fukasaku and distributed in Japan by Toei.

The film is the ground‑breaking first entry in the series, chronicling the rise of ex‑soldier Shozo Hirono from small‑time hood to key player in the chaotic yakuza struggles of post‑war Hiroshima Prefecture and redefining the Japanese gangster film with its gritty realism.

Film background
Opening in the black markets of bomb‑scarred Kure in 1946, the story traces Hirono’s progression as he and his fellow veterans drift into organised crime, navigating shifting loyalties, clan wars and political corruption over the following years. Adapted from real memoirs and newspaper articles about Hiroshima yakuza conflicts, Fukasaku’s film rejects romanticised “ninkyo” notions of honourable gangsters in favour of a fast, brutal chronicle of survival, backstabbing and betrayal. Its success at the Japanese box office and among critics launched a cycle of sequels and cemented Battles Without Honor and Humanity as one of the most influential yakuza films ever made. Wikipedia+1

Poster design
The speed poster design is a striking collage that captures the film’s sense of chaos and moral collapse. A large, halftone‑treated body sprawls diagonally across the sheet, as if fallen in the street, leading the eye from top left to bottom right. Above, a row of anonymous legs strides past, suggesting the endless march of violence and retribution. Down the left side, pinned “photo” portraits of key characters, each marked by bullet‑like punctures, hint at the many shifting allegiances and casualties in the story. The background is filled with a sea of faces rendered in ochre tones, evoking both the masses of post‑war Hiroshima and the crowded ensemble cast. Bold red vertical copy runs through the centre, describing assassination, betrayal and revenge, while the massive navy calligraphy of the title 「仁義なき戦い」 anchors the lower portion of the poster, making this an instantly recognisable piece from Fukasaku’s seminal series.

This poster is in excellent condition (please refer to the imagery of the exact poster for sale).

It is over 52 years old.

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.