This is an original Japanese poster from the release of Early Summer in 1951.
This B2 poster is extremely rare—even in Japan.
A beautiful, full-colour Shochiku sheet, it features striking period artwork/photography of the principal cast: a luminous portrait of Setsuko Hara dominates the design, paired with supporting cast imagery below and bold brush-stroke title calligraphy—classic early-1950s Japanese cinema presentation at its best.
While B2 was the standard theatrical size, surviving original-release examples from the early 1950s—especially for Yasujirō Ozu—are notoriously difficult to find today. Printed on thin paper for cinema display, many were heavily handled or discarded, making clean, authentic copies highly sought after by serious collectors.
Yasujirō Ozu is one of Japan’s most celebrated directors. Early Summer (麦秋, 1951) is the middle entry in his acclaimed “Noriko trilogy”, and it delicately explores family expectations, post-war change, and a young woman’s choice of marriage with Ozu’s signature restraint and humanity.
Condition
Excellent. Light, age-consistent handling with fold lines, subsequently stored flat. (please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale).
It is over 74 years old!
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
