Disco Club “Alphalpha” Promotional Poster (Japan, c. 1970s) — Ex‑Hyōgo Jazz Bar Display, B1 Size (c.73 x 103cm)

Disco Club “Alphalpha” (Japan, c. 1970s) — Ex‑Hyōgo Jazz Bar Display
Original B1 Poster | Approx. 73 × 103 cm (28¾ × 40½ in.) | Offset lithograph in colours | Printed in Japan

A striking, large‑format nightlife poster advertising the Japanese discotheque Alphalpha (ローマ字表記 “Alphalpha”; Japanese text at foot: ディスコ・クラブ アルファルファ). The composition explodes with soul‑and‑jazz iconography—trumpet and sax players flanking a central vocalist—rendered in searing blacks and reds with a stylised calligraphic title in yellow. A superb example of 1970s Japanese club‑culture design, equal parts concert poster and psychedelic illustration.

Key details

• Title: Disco Club Alphalpha

• Place/Date: Japan, c. early–mid 1970s

• Format: B1 (approx. 73 × 103 cm)

• Medium: Offset lithograph with rich spot colours

• Printer/Publisher: Japanese commercial printer (uncredited), issued for Alphalpha discotheque promotion

• Text: “ディスコ・クラブ　アルファルファ” (“Disco Club Alphalpha”) beneath the hand‑drawn logotype

• Authenticity: Original period printing (not a reproduction or later reprint)

• Inclusions: Certificate of Authenticity

Provenance & Exhibition (new)

Previously displayed in a small jazz/soul bar in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The venue adopted this exact image as a core element of its identity—appearing on the illuminated exterior sign and on business cards/handouts (see the reference photos included in the listing). This associative provenance is unusual and makes the piece especially memorable and unique. (The signage and cards shown are for historical reference only and are not included in the sale.)

Condition report

Very Good overall for the period. Strong, saturated inks with excellent image integrity. Light handling waves and scattered surface impressions visible in raking light (most noticeable in the red field), a few minor edge curls and tiny nicks commensurate with age and prior display; no losses to image, no writing on the front, and no tape staining. Presents beautifully at B1 scale. Priced with condition in mind.

Catalogue note

Japanese nightlife ephemera from the 1970s seldom survives in this large B1 format. This Alphalpha sheet is a compelling fusion of music‑club advertising and fine illustration, channeling the energy of funk, soul, and jazz within a boldly graphic layout. The Japanese titling paired with the Roman‑letter logotype anchors the poster firmly in the country’s vibrant post‑Expo era, when discotheques and live‑music spaces were central to urban youth culture. The Hyōgo bar provenance—where the imagery became the venue’s signage—adds a distinctive layer of cultural history.

Please review the detailed photographs—what you see is the exact poster offered.