“Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence” (戦場のメリークリスマス), Original Japanese Re-Release Movie Poster 2021, David Bowie / Ryuichi Sakamoto, B2 Size (c. 51 × 73 cm) — T64

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster for the 2021 4K restored re-release of Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, released in Japan as 戦場のメリークリスマス. Originally made in 1983, Nagisa Ōshima’s internationally acclaimed drama returned to Japanese cinemas on 16 April 2021, introducing its powerful performances and celebrated music to another generation.

Directed by Nagisa Ōshima, the film stars David Bowie, Tom Conti, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Takeshi Kitano and Jack Thompson. Set in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp in Java during the Second World War, it explores the uneasy relationships between captives and captors, bringing questions of honour, desire, cultural misunderstanding and compassion into sharp focus. Bowie plays the defiant Major Jack Celliers, whose arrival unsettles the camp’s commanding officer, Captain Yonoi, played by Sakamoto.

Alongside his performance, Sakamoto composed the film’s distinctive score, winning a BAFTA in 1984. Its recurring main theme remains closely associated with the film’s emotional impact, making this poster particularly appealing to collectors whose interests span both cinema and music.

The design centres on large portraits of Sakamoto and Bowie, bringing their contrasting characters into close visual proximity. A diagonal sword and vivid pink and red flowers introduce a striking contrast between military violence and delicate natural forms. These elements give the composition an immediate connection to the film’s conflicting impulses of discipline, attraction and vulnerability.

Across the lower section, the flowing English title “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence” accompanies bold white Japanese lettering. The designation 「4K修復版」, meaning “4K Restored Version,” identifies the restoration campaign, while the cast and production credits complete the design.

The red promotional wording reads:

「最後の大規模ロードショー」
“The final large-scale theatrical release.”

This wording records how the restoration campaign was promoted at the time. The combination of concentrated portraiture, floral imagery and contrasting typography makes this a distinctive later chapter in the film’s Japanese advertising history. It is especially appealing for collectors of David Bowie, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Nagisa Ōshima and Japanese film poster design.

Condition: Near Mint.

Please review all photographs, including the front and reverse, as they show the exact poster for sale.

Japanese B2 format: approximately 51 × 73 cm.
Stock code: T64.

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.

About Japanese B2 posters
Japanese B2 posters typically measure approximately 51 × 73 cm and were produced for theatrical display. Their distinctive combinations of photography, illustration, typography and locally written promotional copy offer a fascinating record of how films were presented to Japanese audiences.