{"product_id":"sanjuro-椿三十郎-original-japanese-re-release-speed-movie-poster-1968-akira-kurosawa-rare-format-c-26-73-cm-n98a-copy","title":"“Sanjuro” (椿三十郎), Original Japanese First-Release Speed Movie Poster, Printed 1961 for the 1962 Release, Very Rare, Size (26 × 73 cm) — K223","description":"\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003every rare original Japanese speed poster from the first-release campaign for \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSanjuro\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAkira Kurosawa’s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e celebrated samurai film starring \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eToshiro Mifune\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The bottom margin bears the printed credit \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Printed in Japan © TOHO Co., Ltd 1961”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, preceding the film’s Japanese theatrical opening on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1 January 1962\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMeasuring approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e26 × 73 cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, this slim vertical format provides a particularly elegant setting for the poster’s enormous red title lettering. Its restrained combination of calligraphy, a camellia illustration and the Toho emblem makes it a distinctive piece of original Kurosawa publicity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA companion to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYojimbo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSanjuro\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e follows Mifune’s resourceful wandering ronin as he becomes involved with nine young samurai attempting to expose corruption within their clan. Their idealism repeatedly collides with his experience, giving the film its sharp mixture of humour, political intrigue and sudden violence.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cast includes \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTatsuya Nakadai, Yuzo Kayama, Reiko Dan and Keiju Kobayashi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, whose names appear down the left side of the poster. Mifune’s rough manners conceal a perceptive and unexpectedly compassionate character, while the film’s celebrated final confrontation gives its exploration of violence a devastating conclusion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe design is dominated by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e椿三十郎\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, rendered in brilliant red brushstroke lettering against a muted grey ground. The irregular edges and sweeping strokes preserve the expressive character of handwritten calligraphy, with the narrow format allowing the title to extend almost the full height of the sheet.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt upper right, a second column of red lettering announces:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e「黒沢明監督作品」\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“A film directed by Akira Kurosawa.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe black promotional line beside it reads:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e「御存じ三十郎と九人の若侍の話」\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“The story of the familiar Sanjuro and nine young samurai.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis wording introduces the returning character directly to audiences who already knew him from \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYojimbo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The circular \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eToho logo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e sits at upper left, while the production and screenplay credits are arranged in fine vertical columns on the right.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA beautifully shaded \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ecamellia blossom and branch\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e complete the lower corner. The flower refers to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003etsubaki\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, meaning “camellia,” in the Japanese title, adding a delicate botanical detail beneath the forceful lettering.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn exceptionally attractive design for collectors of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAkira Kurosawa, Toshiro Mifune, Japanese calligraphy and original samurai cinema posters\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition: Excellent.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA horizontal centre fold is visible, with associated creasing and some surface wear along the fold. The red lettering remains vivid, and the poster retains excellent overall display appeal.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlease review \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eall photographs, including the front, reverse and detail image\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, as they show the exact poster for sale.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSlim vertical speed-poster format: approximately 26 × 73 cm.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePrinted date: 1961, for the original January 1962 release.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStock code: K223.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003enot a reproduction or a reprint\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCertificate of Authenticity included.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Japan Poster Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57419624350074,"sku":null,"price":395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0424\/8859\/4591\/files\/wall-shelf-with-ornaments-2026-10-16T135106.541.jpg?v=1792126278","url":"https:\/\/japanposter.co.uk\/products\/sanjuro-%e6%a4%bf%e4%b8%89%e5%8d%81%e9%83%8e-original-japanese-re-release-speed-movie-poster-1968-akira-kurosawa-rare-format-c-26-73-cm-n98a-copy","provider":"Japan Poster Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}