“RETURN OF THE SEVEN” / “続・荒野の七人”, Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1967, Rare, STB Tatekan Size 20 × 57 in / 51 × 145 cm B266

This is an original Japanese STB / tatekan theatrical poster printed in 1967 for the first Japanese release of Return of the Seven (続・荒野の七人), the 1966 sequel to The Magnificent Seven, directed by Burt Kennedy and starring Yul Brynner reprising his iconic role as Chris Adams, alongside Robert Fuller, Julián Mateos, Warren Oates, Claude Akins, Virgilio Teixeira, and Jordan Christopher.

Printed in the striking two-panel STB signboard format, this poster measures approximately 51 × 145 cm (20 × 57 in) and was designed for Japanese cinema display. Surviving examples are materially scarcer than standard B2 posters, particularly for major Western titles of the 1960s.

Film background
Released in Japan in 1967, Return of the Seven continues the story of the gunfighters first introduced in The Magnificent Seven, one of the most culturally resonant Westerns ever released in Japan. That connection is especially important here, as The Magnificent Seven was itself famously inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai, creating a compelling cultural loop in which a Hollywood Western shaped by Japanese cinema returned to Japan in sequel form.

The Japanese title 続・荒野の七人 literally signals this connection: “Sequel: The Seven of the Wilderness.” For collectors of Japanese film ephemera, this gives the piece particular significance beyond its immediate appeal as a classic Western poster.

Poster design
The design is bold, direct, and exceptionally effective at scale. The upper section is dominated by a commanding full-length portrait of Yul Brynner, standing with revolver in hand, black hat on, his figure anchoring the entire composition with unmistakable star power.

To the right runs the large vertical Japanese title 続・荒野の七人, with the blue 続 immediately announcing the film as the continuation of the earlier classic. The distressed maroon brush-style title lettering gives the sheet strong visual force and distinctly Japanese graphic character.

A dramatic vertical red tagline reads:

「血しぶきをあげて帰って来た七人……凄絶さと迫力を増して大荒野を疾駆する七人のガンマン！」

A natural rendering is:

“The seven have returned amid sprays of blood… seven gunmen ride across the vast wilderness with even greater ferocity and power!”

The lower portion expands into a lively action montage of the seven gunmen in defensive and combat positions across a desert landscape, culminating in a frontier battle vignette at the base. The stylised English title “Yul Brynner in Return of the Seven” is retained near the lower centre, with the large yellow 7 emphasizing the sequel identity.

Additional billing at upper left notes Deluxe Color and Panavision, while the lower credits reference director Burt Kennedy and music by Elmer Bernstein, whose score further binds the film to the legacy of the original Magnificent Seven.

Why this poster matters
This is a particularly desirable Japanese Western poster for several reasons:

• Original Japanese first-release STB from 1967
• Rare tatekan format, produced in smaller numbers and surviving less often than regular B2s
• Yul Brynner presented in a monumental, highly displayable composition
• Strong cultural link to The Magnificent Seven and, by extension, Seven Samurai
• Excellent cross-collectible appeal spanning Hollywood Westerns, Japanese poster design, United Artists distribution, and 1960s cinema advertising

For collectors of Japanese Western posters, this is exactly the kind of large-format theatrical artifact that combines scale, rarity, and historical resonance.

About STB / Tatekan posters
STB (tatekan) posters are tall Japanese cinema signboard posters formed from two stacked B2 sheets, typically measuring around 51 × 145 cm. They were intended for theatre-front display, lobby pillars, and freestanding poster boards, created for maximum street-level visibility rather than long-term preservation.

Because they were often heavily used, pasted up, folded, or discarded, surviving examples are now highly prized by collectors, especially for major international titles. For Western imagery in particular, the format works beautifully, allowing the design to unfold almost like a vertical mural.

Condition
Excellent condition. Please review the photos carefully, as they show the exact poster for sale.

This is an original 1967 Japanese theatrical poster.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

It is nearly 60 years old.

Certificate of Authenticity included.