“Ichi the Killer” (殺し屋１ / Koroshiya Ichi), Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 2001, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) (STYLE B) O73

This is an original Japanese B2 poster printed in 2001 for the first theatrical release of Ichi the Killer (殺し屋１), directed by Takashi Miike and based on the manga by Hideo Yamamoto. The cast features Nao Ōmori (Ichi), Tadanobu Asano (Kakihara), and Shinya Tsukamoto. Issued for Japanese cinemas with the film’s official website koroshiya-1.com along the bottom.

Film background
Miike’s notorious cult classic blends yakuza power struggles with pitch-black humor and extreme set-pieces. Its provocations made it a lightning rod at festivals and on home video, cementing its status as one of the defining shock-cinema titles of the 2000s and a key work in Miike’s international breakout.

Poster design
A gritty, photo-illustrated portrait of Tadanobu Asano’s Kakihara—bleached hair whipping in the wind, purple suit shimmering—set against a blurred cityscape. The cheeky tagline reads 「愛は、かなりイタイ。」 (“Love hurts—quite a lot.”). The oversized white logotype 殺し屋１ dominates the lower field, with the R-18 mark and contemporary credits arrayed beneath—an unmistakable window into Japan’s early-2000s cult-film marketing.

Why collectors prize this poster

• Country-of-origin Japanese first-release B2 for Miike’s infamous masterpiece.

• Star-driven key art featuring Asano’s iconic Kakihara.

• Scarce contemporary cult title; standout for manga-to-film and J-horror/yakuza collectors.

Details
Country: Japan
Year: 2001
Size: B2 — 51 × 73 cm
Type: Original theatrical release poster
Director: Takashi Miike
Based on: Manga by Hideo Yamamoto
Cast: Nao Ōmori, Tadanobu Asano, Shinya Tsukamoto

Condition
Excellent. Please review the images (front and close-ups) as they show the exact poster for sale.

It is over 24 years old!

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.