“KIRIN LAGER BEER × HARRISON FORD × MOMOKO KIKUCHI” — ORIGINAL JAPANESE B2 ADVERTISING POSTER — “MR. BEER” CAMPAIGN / GIANT 350ml CAN DESIGN — STORE-USE / 非売品
Ultra Rare | In-Store Display | Not for Sale | c. 1994–1995 Issue | 51 × 73 cm / B2
This is an original Japanese B2 advertising poster from Kirin Lager Beer’s celebrated “Mr. Beer” campaign, featuring Harrison Ford alongside Japanese singer and actress Momoko Kikuchi. Issued exclusively for retail and point-of-sale display, rather than public sale, this poster is a striking survivor from the height of mid-1990s Japanese beverage advertising.
Among the many designs produced during the two-year Kirin “Mr. Beer” campaign of 1994–1995, this particular image — with Ford and Kikuchi positioned beside a giant 350ml Kirin Lager can — is one of the campaign’s most visually distinctive and memorable compositions.
Japan-only design & credit
This is a Japan-exclusive, store-use promotional poster distributed to retailers for short-term display. It was not sold commercially to the public. As with many Japanese beer and beverage advertising posters of the period, detailed agency or photographer credits do not appear on the sheet, which is typical for ephemeral point-of-sale material.
Poster design — what you see here
The poster presents a clean, highly structured studio composition on a stark white background. The top headline reads 「キリンラガービール、ください。」 — “Kirin Lager Beer, please.” — set in bold black katakana across the upper margin.
At the centre is an oversized 350ml Kirin Lager Beer can, featuring the classic red oval Kirin Brewery Company emblem and the brand’s mythical Kirin creature. The large “LAGER BEER” label dominates the can’s front, creating a powerful central product image.
Harrison Ford stands to the right, leaning casually on the top rim of the giant can, dressed in a black polo shirt and dark trousers. Momoko Kikuchi stands to the left in a minimalist yellow dress, resting her hands against the can. The pairing creates a strong contrast between international Hollywood presence and Japanese domestic celebrity appeal.
At the lower right is the campaign tagline 「ミスター・ビール。キリンラガービール」 — “Mr. Beer. Kirin Lager Beer” — together with a studio product image of a Kirin Lager amber glass bottle. Along the bottom edge appears the standard Japanese beer notice: 「ビールは、20歳になってから。あきかんは、リサイクルへ。」 — “Beer is for those aged 20 and over. Please recycle empty cans.”
The result is pure mid-1990s Japanese commercial design: minimal, direct, product-focused, and immediately recognisable.
Beer & celebrity in Japan
Kirin Lager is one of Japan’s most established beer brands, and this campaign reflects the strength of Japanese advertising in the 1990s: restrained graphic design, clear product visibility, and major celebrity endorsement. Harrison Ford brought international recognition and quiet authority to the campaign, while Momoko Kikuchi added important domestic star appeal.
This combination gives the poster broader collector interest than many standard brewery advertising sheets of the period, appealing not only to collectors of Japanese advertising, but also to those interested in Harrison Ford memorabilia, Japanese pop culture, brewery ephemera, and 1990s commercial design.
About Momoko Kikuchi
Momoko Kikuchi was a prominent Japanese singer, actress, and television personality, especially associated with the entertainment culture of the 1980s and 1990s. Her appearance in this campaign firmly places the poster within the visual world of Japan’s celebrity-led advertising boom, when major domestic stars were frequently paired with international figures for high-profile brand campaigns.
About the B2 format — size & rarity
Japanese advertising posters commonly used the B2 format, measuring approximately 51 × 73 cm / 20.1 × 28.7 in. Posters of this type were produced for short display periods in shops, liquor retailers, restaurants, bars, supermarkets, and other commercial settings.
Because these posters were intended as temporary advertising materials, most were displayed, removed, and discarded. Surviving originals are therefore far scarcer than standard commercial posters, particularly when they feature internationally recognised figures and highly specific Japan-only campaign artwork.
Why this example is extraordinary
This is one of the standout visual designs from Kirin Lager Beer’s 1994–1995 “Mr. Beer” campaign. The giant can composition gives the poster unusual graphic presence, while the pairing of Harrison Ford and Momoko Kikuchi adds significant crossover appeal.
Original store-use Kirin posters from this campaign were never intended for long-term preservation. A surviving example in B2 format, with strong colour and a highly displayable image, is therefore a desirable piece of Japanese advertising history.
Condition
Excellent vintage condition. Please review the photos carefully, as they show the exact poster for sale.
The poster presents well overall, with strong colour, a clean central image, and excellent visual impact. As expected for an original store-use advertising poster over 30 years old, the reverse shows tape tabs/adhesive strips near the corners. Once framed, the poster should display very well.
It is over 30 years old.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
A rare and highly evocative Kirin Lager Beer “Mr. Beer” Japanese B2 poster, issued for store display during the 1994–1995 campaign, featuring Harrison Ford and Momoko Kikuchi beside the giant 350ml Kirin Lager can — one of the most distinctive and collectible designs from this celebrated Japan-only advertising series.
