“Nabbie’s Love” (ナビィの恋), Original Japanese Movie Poster 1999, Yuji Nakae / Okinawan Cinema, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) T48
This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster produced for the 1999 release of Nabbie’s Love, directed by Yuji Nakae and starring Naomi Nishida, Tomi Taira, and Seijin Noborikawa. Its colourful, woodcut-style illustration captures the film’s distinctive blend of romance, humour, and Okinawan musical culture.
Film background
Set on a small Okinawan island, the story follows a young woman returning home from Tokyo, where she discovers that her grandmother, Nabbie, has reunited with the man she loved sixty years earlier. Their renewed relationship unsettles the island community, creating a moving story about enduring affection, family expectations, and the freedom to follow one’s heart. Performances by celebrated Okinawan musicians give the film much of its character.
Music is central to the film’s atmosphere, with Seijin Noborikawa’s singing and sanshin playing connecting the drama to Okinawan tradition. The poster also credits Michael Nyman’s main theme, “RAFUTI,” reflecting the production’s wider musical influences.
Poster design
The composition is filled with pink blossoms, deep green foliage, and scattered blue and yellow accents against a strong black background. Angular shapes and deliberately uneven textures give the printed illustration the expressive appearance of a colour woodcut.
Two stylised figures appear upside down among the flowers, creating a playful sense of movement and romantic abandon. Their unusual arrangement rewards a closer look, while the dense floral pattern gives the poster considerable decorative appeal.
A narrow green banner with white Japanese lettering runs vertically through the upper left. Its wording translates as “I fell in love with you in the spring when I was nineteen,” introducing the film’s theme of a youthful romance remembered across a lifetime.
The sweeping red title ナビィの恋 — Nabbie’s Love sits within the pale lower margin. Small English lettering and a compact credit line complete the design, including the 1999 copyright and distribution credits for Office Shirous and Tokyo Theatres.
About Japanese B2 posters
Japanese B2 theatrical posters, measuring approximately 51 × 73 cm, were produced for cinema promotion. This example brings together the film’s original illustrated campaign artwork, Japanese promotional copy, cast credits, and distribution details.
Collecting significance
An appealing piece for collectors of Okinawan cinema, Japanese independent film, and illustrated movie posters. Its floral imagery and lively arrangement of figures offer a particularly expressive interpretation of the film’s warmth and musical spirit.
Condition
Very Good+. The main illustration retains strong colour and very good overall display appeal.
Please review all photographs, including the reverse and close-up details, as they show the exact poster for sale.
It is over 26 years old!
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
