"Kikujiro" (菊次郎の夏), Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1999, Rare "Green" Variant, B1 Size (c. 71 × 103 cm) - Gallery
This is an original Japanese B1 theatrical poster produced for the 1999 release of Takeshi Kitano’s Kikujiro (菊次郎の夏 / Kikujirō no Natsu). Featuring Kitano and his young co-star surrounded by luminous summer foliage, it is an exceptionally beautiful design from late-1990s Japanese cinema, capturing the warmth and playful melancholy of one of the director’s gentler films.
Printed in the impressive Japanese B1 format of approximately 72.8 × 103 cm, this poster has approximately twice the surface area of a standard Japanese B2 cinema poster. This large format is particularly difficult to find and gives the expansive photographic composition considerable presence.
Film background
Written and directed by Takeshi Kitano, Kikujiro follows Masao, a lonely young boy played by Yusuke Sekiguchi, who sets out during the summer holidays to find his mother. His unlikely companion is Kikujiro, a foul-mouthed, irresponsible small-time crook played by Kitano himself.
Their journey unfolds through mishaps, unexpected encounters, improvised games, and moments of disappointment. Gradually, the abrasive adult becomes an awkward protector, and the search develops into a story about companionship and the kindness of strangers.
Internationally associated with films including Sonatine and Hana-bi, Kitano brings his distinctive deadpan humour and interest in isolated outsiders to a more openly tender register. Beneath the film’s comedy lies a sensitive exploration of childhood loneliness and adult vulnerability.
Poster design
The composition immerses its two protagonists in a seemingly endless field of lush green leaves and soft yellow sunlight. Kitano appears in the foreground wearing a white head towel, while Sekiguchi smiles from further back, each holding an oversized leaf above his head.
The broad foliage, softened background, and small figures create an almost storybook sense of scale. The image feels playful and quietly surreal, allowing the landscape to dominate while the characters’ expressions establish their relationship.
Two brief exchanges appear vertically in black:
「おじちゃん」
“Mister!”
「なんだよ小僧」
“What is it, kid?”
These lines capture the affectionate friction between the boy and his reluctant companion.
Across the lower portion, the Japanese title appears in large, textured white lettering:
「菊次郎の夏」
“Kikujiro’s Summer”
The rough, handwritten appearance of the title complements the photograph’s informal warmth. Yellow lettering along the bottom announces:
「1999年初夏ロードショー」
“In cinemas early summer 1999.”
The result is a remarkably assured design: rich in colour, spacious in composition, and immediately expressive of the film’s summer atmosphere. At B1 scale, the enveloping foliage becomes especially striking.
Cultural significance
Selected for competition at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival, Kikujiro occupies a distinctive place in Kitano’s filmography, bringing his comic instincts and emotional restraint into an unconventional road movie.
Joe Hisaishi’s piano-centred score, particularly the theme Summer, reinforces the film’s mixture of playfulness, nostalgia, and sadness.
This original Japanese poster translates those qualities into an image with considerable appeal beyond film memorabilia. Its combination of photographic beauty, expressive typography, and scarce B1 dimensions makes it a particularly attractive piece for collectors of Takeshi Kitano, Japanese cinema, and film-poster design.
Condition
Excellent.
The poster retains rich greens, warm yellows, and strong overall visual impact. Handling creases, surface undulation, and some edge wear are visible, particularly around the upper and side margins, with minor marks to the reverse. Please review the photographs—they show the exact poster for sale.
This is an original Japanese B1 theatrical poster produced for the film’s 1999 release.
It is not a reproduction or a modern reprint.
It is approximately 27 years old.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
