{"product_id":"kagemusha-original-japanese-first-release-movie-poster-1980-akira-kurosawa-artwork-rare-b2-size-51-73-cm-s83","title":"“Kagemusha”, Original Japanese First Release Movie Poster 1980, Akira Kurosawa Artwork, Rare B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) S83","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eoriginal Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed in 1980 for the first release of Akira Kurosawa’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKagemusha\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (影武者 \/ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShadow Warrior\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e), starring \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTatsuya Nakadai, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kenichi Hagiwara, Jinpachi Nezu, Daisuke Ryū,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and Takashi Shimura.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReleased theatrically in Japan by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eToho on 26 April 1980\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKagemusha\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e marked Kurosawa’s triumphant return to large-scale historical filmmaking and went on to share the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePalme d’Or at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat makes this particular Japanese first-release B2 especially important is the artwork: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethe poster was designed using Akira Kurosawa’s own painting\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, making it not simply a piece of film advertising but a direct extension of the director’s visual conception of the film. This exact Japanese B2 design is documented with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAkira Kurosawa credited as the artist\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFilm background\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSet during Japan’s turbulent Sengoku period, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKagemusha\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e centres on a petty thief whose extraordinary resemblance to the powerful warlord \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTakeda Shingen\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e saves him from execution.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen Shingen is mortally wounded, his clan must conceal his death to prevent rival forces from exploiting the resulting weakness. The thief is therefore forced to become the dead lord’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ekagemusha—his political and physical “shadow warrior.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInitially little more than an impersonator, the double gradually becomes absorbed into Shingen’s identity. He learns the warlord’s gestures, family relationships and responsibilities, until the boundary between performance and self begins to disappear.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThrough this extraordinary premise, Kurosawa explores \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eidentity, political theatre, loyalty, illusion, power and the psychological burden of becoming another person\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt the same time, the film unfolds on an enormous historical scale, filled with cavalry, banners, armour, battle formations and some of the most carefully orchestrated colour imagery of Kurosawa’s career.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKurosawa’s comeback epic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKagemusha\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e occupies a particularly important place in Kurosawa’s later career.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAfter struggling for years to secure financing for major productions, the director received crucial international support from \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGeorge Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, whose advocacy helped make the film’s large-scale production possible through 20th Century Fox backing. Cannes describes Lucas and Coppola as having stepped forward to help finance the long-planned epic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIts success at Cannes reaffirmed Kurosawa’s international stature and paved the way for the even more monumental \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e five years later.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePoster design\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis Japanese B2 is one of the most extraordinary designs produced for the film.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRather than relying on conventional cast photography, the entire image is built around \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKurosawa’s own intensely expressionistic artwork\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA colossal blue-black face emerges from violent strokes of turquoise, white, grey and crimson. The eye is sharply defined within an otherwise fractured portrait, giving the figure the appearance of simultaneously materialising and dissolving into the surrounding brushwork.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe paint application is deliberately raw. Heavy black strokes slash across the face and armour, while pale blue lines, rough scumbling and broad areas of red create the impression of a warlord reconstructed from fragments of memory.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDown the right side, the film title appears in enormous red characters:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e「影武者」\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Kagemusha \/ Shadow Warrior”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlongside it appears:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e「黒澤明監督作品」\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“A Film Directed by Akira Kurosawa”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe famous circular:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e「東宝」\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“TOHO”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003emark appears at upper right.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt lower right, Kurosawa’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eprinted English signature\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is incorporated directly into the artwork, further emphasising that this poster is presenting the director not only as filmmaker but as painter.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe original \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEirin registration number 79518\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e remains visible at lower left.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAkira Kurosawa as artist\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKurosawa’s paintings are an important but sometimes overlooked part of his creative practice.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor films including \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKagemusha\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDreams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, he produced extensive colour drawings and paintings to establish compositions, costumes, lighting, movement and atmosphere before filming. Museums have subsequently exhibited these works as significant artworks in their own right.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Japanese B2 offered here is therefore unusual in the history of movie-poster design: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethe director himself is also the credited poster artist\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRather than an advertising department interpreting Kurosawa’s vision, the poster places the viewer directly in front of his own painted imagery.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVery Good+.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003egenuine cinema-used example\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and the evidence of its working theatrical life remains visible.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere are \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eoriginal very small display pinholes, vintage yellowed tape residue at the corners and edges.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe reverse also shows the expected marks and traces associated with historic mounting and storage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eImportantly, the principal image remains \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eremarkably vivid and powerful\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Kurosawa’s blue, black and crimson brushwork retains excellent colour and definition, while the red title characters and printed signature remain strong.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese signs of use provide excellent physical provenance for an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eauthentic 1980 Japanese cinema-displayed poster\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e rather than an unused later copy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOnce professionally framed, this poster will display exceptionally well\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, while retaining the genuine patina and history of its original theatrical use.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully—they show the exact poster for sale.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis poster is an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eoriginal Japanese theatrical B2 from the 1980 first-release campaign\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003enot a reproduction or a modern reprint\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt is approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e46 years old\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCertificate of Authenticity included.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Japan Poster Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57209923535226,"sku":null,"price":695.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0424\/8859\/4591\/files\/wall-shelf-with-ornaments-2026-08-28T171326.453.jpg?v=1787904816","url":"https:\/\/japanposter.co.uk\/products\/kagemusha-original-japanese-first-release-movie-poster-1980-akira-kurosawa-artwork-rare-b2-size-51-73-cm-s83","provider":"Japan Poster Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}