“Love Letter” / 「ラブレター」, Original Japanese Movie Poster 1995, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) A298

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed for the first release of Love Letter / 「ラブレター」, Shunji Iwai’s acclaimed 1995 romantic drama starring Miho Nakayama and Etsushi Toyokawa.

One of the defining Japanese romance films of the 1990s, Love Letter is celebrated for its delicate storytelling, snow-covered Hokkaido landscapes, poetic cinematography, and moving exploration of memory, grief, and love that survives through the written word.

Film background

Two years after the death of her fiancé, Itsuki Fujii, Hiroko Watanabe remains unable to move beyond her grief. While visiting his family, she discovers the address of the childhood home where he once lived in Otaru.

Knowing that the house no longer exists, Hiroko writes a letter to the address as a private farewell. Unexpectedly, she receives a reply from another person named Itsuki Fujii—a woman who attended school with her late fiancé and shared his name.

Their correspondence gradually uncovers forgotten school memories, unspoken emotions, and the quiet truth behind the deceased Itsuki’s first love.

Written and directed by Shunji Iwai, the film stars Miho Nakayama in a celebrated dual role, alongside Etsushi Toyokawa, Miki Sakai, Takashi Kashiwabara, Katsuyuki Shinohara, and Mariko Kaga.

Love Letter became a major critical and commercial success and developed an especially devoted following throughout East Asia. Its iconic call of 「お元気ですか？」 / “How are you?” remains one of the most recognisable moments in modern Japanese romantic cinema.

Poster design

The poster uses an exceptionally restrained and elegant composition dominated by a large photographic portrait of Miho Nakayama, shown in profile with her face tilted upward.

She wears a black winter coat against a softly illuminated cream background, while small snowflakes drift through the image. The contrast between the dark silhouette and the open white space gives the poster a quiet, melancholic atmosphere that perfectly reflects the film’s themes of winter, absence, and memory.

The vertical text at upper left reads:

「拝啓、藤井 樹様。
あなたは誰ですか。」

“Dear Itsuki Fujii,
who are you?”

The smaller central tagline reads:

「その恋は、届くはずのない
一通の『ラブレター』から始まった。」

“That love began with a single ‘love letter’ that should never have arrived.”

The English title:

“Love Letter”

stretches across the lower half in large orange serif lettering, followed by the principal stars:

“MIHO NAKAYAMA / ETSUSHI TOYOKAWA”

The Japanese production credit beneath reads:

「脚本・監督：岩井俊二　出演：中山美穂／豊川悦司」

“Written and directed by Shunji Iwai; starring Miho Nakayama and Etsushi Toyokawa.”

The minimal typography, pale winter palette, and solitary portrait create a sophisticated and deeply emotional design that has become closely associated with the film.

Release note

This poster was printed for the film’s original Japanese theatrical release in 1995.

It is a standard Japanese B2-size poster, measuring approximately:

51.5 × 72.8 cm / 20 × 28.7 inches

It is an original period Japanese cinema poster, not a later reproduction or commercial reprint.

Condition

Excellent condition. An exceptionally well-preserved example, with clean white space, rich photographic detail, sharp typography, and outstanding overall display impact.

There are only the most minor signs of age or handling consistent with an original Japanese theatrical poster from 1995.

Reference: A298.

Please review the photographs carefully, as they show the exact poster for sale.

This is an original 1995 Japanese theatrical poster.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

It is now over 30 years old.

Certificate of Authenticity included.