“HARRISON FORD × TU‑KA PHONE KANSAI” (1994) – ORIGINAL JAPANESE B3 NAKAZURI (TRAIN HANGING) ADVERTISING POSTER – “DIGITAL TU‑KA” SERVICE LAUNCH (RAIL DISPLAY / 非売品)
Rare | In‑Train/Subway Hanging Ad (Not for Sale) | First Issue 1994 | 36 × 51 cm (B3)
This is an original Japanese B3 nakazuri poster printed for Tu‑Ka Phone Kansai (ツーカーホン関西) to announce the launch of its service on April 1, 1994—featuring Harrison Ford as the campaign image character. Issued as corporate/transit advertising (not sold commercially), survivors are scarce—especially clean examples that still present with strong contrast and crisp typography.
Japan‑only design & credit
As with many ’90s Japanese rail and corporate advertising sheets, printer/agency credits are not the focus—this was made for domestic display use (中吊り / nakazuri), meant to be hung inside commuter trains and replaced quickly as campaigns changed. The result: authentic period pieces like this were rarely kept.
Poster design (what you see here)
A striking, minimalist sepia/black‑and‑white photographic close‑up of Ford in profile dominates the sheet—his hand raised to his ear with a chunky early‑’90s mobile phone, turning a simple “phone call” into a cinematic moment. The copy is razor‑clean and graphic:
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Bold orange vertical headline: 「ハリソン君、今日からだ。」 (“Harrison, it starts today.”)
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Massive launch statement: 「4月1日 STARTS」 (April 1 starts)
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Dense micro‑text touting the “new era” of digital phones—clearer sound, stronger privacy, improved battery life, and a 93.3% population‑coverage claim (period copy), with a base monthly fee listed from ¥4,400 (as printed).
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Lower right product lineup of four handsets (labeled S / D / N / P) and the brand callout デジタルツーカー (“Digital Tu‑Ka”), plus a launch campaign window 4.1–5.31.
The overall effect is a perfect time capsule: early digital telecom optimism packaged with Hollywood gravitas.
Telecom & celebrity in Japan
Tu‑Ka Phone Kansai’s service launch in 1994 sits right at Japan’s rapid shift into the digital mobile era—and the campaign’s use of Ford is also deeply “Japan”: Japanese advertising has long leaned heavily on celebrity endorsement, with studies reporting celebrities appearing in roughly 50%–70% of Japanese commercials—far higher than many Western markets.
That cultural reality is playfully echoed in Lost in Translation’s famous “Suntory Time” setup—an outsider’s wink at a very real industry practice. This Tu‑Ka campaign is the authentic article, and Tu‑Ka Phone Kansai’s own roster of image characters included not only Harrison Ford but other international stars (e.g., Janet Jackson, Brad Pitt), underscoring how aggressively Japanese brands embraced global celebrity in this era.
About the nakazuri format (B3 & rarity)
Nakazuri are ceiling‑hung carriage inserts, commonly B3 (approx. 36 × 51 cm). They were installed briefly, exposed to handling and transit wear, then discarded—making surviving originals in collectible condition genuinely uncommon.
Why this example is extraordinary (rarity & market)
Most transit ads were never meant to outlive the campaign. Finding a Harrison Ford–fronted Tu‑Ka launch nakazuri that still reads as a clean, high‑impact graphic object—complete with all launch copy and handset lineup—is a standout survival from Japan’s early mobile‑phone age.
Condition
Excellent vintage condition overall (please review the detailed images for the exact condition).
It is over 30 years old.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
A rare, nostalgia‑rich 1994 Tu‑Ka Phone Kansai nakazuri starring Harrison Ford—a crisp rail‑display (非売品) survivor from the dawn of Japan’s digital mobile era.
