{"product_id":"die-hard-ダイ-ハード-original-release-japanese-movie-poster-1988-b2-size-51-73-cm-j197-copy-1","title":"“Die Hard”, Original Japanese CBS\/FOX Video Release Promotional B2 Poster 1989, Rare Bruce Willis \/ Nakatomi Plaza Action Montage, B2 Poster Size (c.51.5 × 72.8cm) S70","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eThis is an \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal, very rare Japanese B2 promotional poster printed in 1989\u003c\/strong\u003e for the Japanese home-video release of John McTiernan’s action landmark \u003cem\u003eDie Hard\u003c\/em\u003e (ダイ・ハード). Rather than being a standard theatrical poster, this sheet was created specifically for the \u003cstrong\u003eCBS\/FOX VIDEO Japanese VHS campaign\u003c\/strong\u003e, making it a fascinating and considerably more unusual piece of period promotional material. The artwork advertises the \u003cstrong\u003e1 September 1989 video release\u003c\/strong\u003e, including the Japanese-dubbed VHS edition priced at \u003cstrong\u003e¥15,700\u003c\/strong\u003e. The standard Japanese \u003cstrong\u003eB2 format measures approximately 51.5 × 72.8 cm (20.3 × 28.7 inches).\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFilm background\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eDie Hard\u003c\/em\u003e stars \u003cstrong\u003eBruce Willis as New York police detective John McClane\u003c\/strong\u003e, whose Christmas visit to Los Angeles turns into a one-man battle after a heavily armed group takes over the Nakatomi Corporation skyscraper and holds its occupants hostage. \u003cstrong\u003eAlan Rickman\u003c\/strong\u003e gives his celebrated screen performance as Hans Gruber, alongside \u003cstrong\u003eBonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson and Alexander Godunov\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDirected by \u003cstrong\u003eJohn McTiernan\u003c\/strong\u003e, the film became one of the defining action movies of the late 1980s and established McClane as a very different kind of action hero: battered, vulnerable, sarcastic and frequently improvising simply to stay alive. The Japanese advertising leans enthusiastically into precisely this aspect of the character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePoster design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePrinted for the \u003cstrong\u003eJapanese home-video market\u003c\/strong\u003e, this B2 design is dramatically different from the comparatively restrained theatrical imagery most closely associated with \u003cem\u003eDie Hard\u003c\/em\u003e. Instead, it is a gloriously excessive \u003cstrong\u003elate-1980s Japanese action montage\u003c\/strong\u003e, cramming virtually every major element of the film into a single explosive composition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA huge image of \u003cstrong\u003eBruce Willis as John McClane\u003c\/strong\u003e dominates the right side of the sheet, bruised, sweating and shouting as he grips a submachine gun. Behind him, \u003cstrong\u003eNakatomi Plaza erupts in flames\u003c\/strong\u003e, with the orange fireball at the upper left providing a spectacular backdrop to the entire design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcross the lower half is an elaborate photographic montage featuring \u003cstrong\u003eHans Gruber, Karl, Sgt. Al Powell, Holly Gennero-McClane and other principal characters\u003c\/strong\u003e, together with helicopters, police vehicles and burning cars. Unlike the minimalist architectural imagery of many international \u003cem\u003eDie Hard\u003c\/em\u003e posters, this Japanese campaign sells the movie almost entirely through \u003cstrong\u003espeed, explosions, weaponry and Bruce Willis himself\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe enormous blue headline across the top reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e超高層ビル爆破!! テロ集団に挑む凄い奴!!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApproximately: \u003cstrong\u003e“Skyscraper explosion!! An incredible guy takes on a terrorist group!!”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe equally memorable red copy beside McClane reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e死んでも死なないタフな奴。それがダイ・ハード！\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApproximately: \u003cstrong\u003e“A tough guy who won’t die even if he dies. That’s Die Hard!”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is wonderfully direct Japanese advertising copy and perfectly captures the indestructible-but-battered John McClane persona that became central to the series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHome-video campaign history\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eCBS\/FOX VIDEO\u003c\/strong\u003e branding at upper right identifies the poster specifically with the Japanese video campaign rather than the film’s original cinema release. The sheet prominently announces \u003cstrong\u003e9\/1\u003c\/strong\u003e as the launch date and advertises the Japanese-dubbed video edition at \u003cstrong\u003e¥15,700\u003c\/strong\u003e, an evocative reminder of just how expensive premium prerecorded VHS releases could be in late-1980s Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEven more unusually, the left-hand section incorporates an original \u003cstrong\u003eDie Hard Video Release Special Quiz\u003c\/strong\u003e promotion. Buyers or viewers could enter a mail-in competition to win prizes including a \u003cstrong\u003e29-inch Victor colour television\u003c\/strong\u003e, original \u003cem\u003eDie Hard\u003c\/em\u003e merchandise and one of \u003cstrong\u003e1,000 original Die Hard telephone cards\u003c\/strong\u003e. These ephemeral promotional details make this poster an exceptional little time capsule of Japan’s booming late-1980s home-video culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe combination of \u003cstrong\u003ebespoke Japanese artwork, CBS\/FOX Video branding, period VHS pricing and the original promotional competition\u003c\/strong\u003e makes this a much more specialised collectible than a conventional theatrical B2.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis poster is in Very Good+\/ excellent condition.\u003c\/strong\u003e The central artwork remains \u003cstrong\u003eextremely strong, colourful and highly displayable\u003c\/strong\u003e, with rich blacks, fiery orange and red tones and vivid blue typography retaining excellent saturation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is a \u003cstrong\u003enoticeable tear with a small amount of paper loss at the upper-left edge\u003c\/strong\u003e, immediately above and beside the opening blue headline typography, together with minor associated edge wear. There are also \u003cstrong\u003elight handling marks and soft surface \/ storage waves\u003c\/strong\u003e consistent with an original unbacked promotional poster of this age. Importantly, the primary Bruce Willis imagery, Nakatomi Plaza explosion, title area and supporting montage remain unaffected by any major damage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003everso is remarkably clean\u003c\/strong\u003e, without the heavy staining, tape residue or extensive foxing often encountered on surviving Japanese video-store promotional posters from this period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease refer to the imagery (front, condition detail and verso), as this is the exact poster that is for sale. Despite the localised upper-left edge damage, once framed it will display excellently.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt is nearly 37 years old.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt is not a reproduction or a reprint.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Japan Poster Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57213587456378,"sku":null,"price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0424\/8859\/4591\/files\/wall-shelf-with-ornaments-2026-08-29T173325.296.jpg?v=1787992524","url":"https:\/\/japanposter.co.uk\/products\/die-hard-%e3%83%80%e3%82%a4-%e3%83%8f%e3%83%bc%e3%83%89-original-release-japanese-movie-poster-1988-b2-size-51-73-cm-j197-copy-1","provider":"Japan Poster Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}