“Star Wars” (スター・ウォーズ), Original Japanese First Release Nakazuri Movie Poster, Ultra Rare, B3 Size (c. 36 × 51 cm) O844
This is an original Japanese B3 nakazuri poster printed for the first Japanese theatrical release campaign of Star Wars (1977), George Lucas’s era-defining space adventure—starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness and Peter Cushing, with John Williams’s instantly iconic score. Few films have reshaped popular culture so completely: Star Wars introduced a new kind of mythic, effects-driven blockbuster, launched an entire cinematic universe, and permanently changed the look and language of science-fiction on screen.
In Japan, B3 posters (also known as nakazuri) are smaller railway and bus-interior posters, roughly half the size of the standard B2, designed to hang from ceilings and inside carriages. Because they were printed in far smaller numbers and were usually discarded after use, surviving examples like this are highly collectible.
This particular nakazuri is even more desirable: it was printed specifically for the Kansai / Keihanshin region—covering Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe—with local theatre information and release messaging unique to that area (including “ロードショー” roadshow copy and the Kansai venue listings along the bottom). This listing is for the main campaign artwork (the classic key image), not a separate “additional imagery” / later-variant sheet.
This size is much rarer than the B2, and this Kansai-region issue is rarer still—an exceptionally scarce piece of original Japanese Star Wars release ephemera.
Film background
A young farm boy, Luke Skywalker, is drawn into a rebellion against the Galactic Empire after encountering a runaway droid carrying a desperate message from Princess Leia. Joined by rogue pilot Han Solo, the mighty Wookiee Chewbacca, and Jedi mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke is thrust into a high-stakes battle that culminates in a climactic assault on the Empire’s ultimate weapon: the Death Star. Blending serial-style adventure, mythology, samurai and western influences, and groundbreaking visual effects, Star Wars became the blueprint for modern blockbuster cinema.
Poster design
This nakazuri uses the instantly recognisable early Star Wars campaign artwork: a deep-space collage dominated by Darth Vader’s looming helmeted visage, the Death Star above, and a formation of starfighters streaking across the starfield. In the foreground, Luke, Leia and Han are captured mid-action alongside C-3PO and R2-D2, with key Imperial imagery (stormtroopers and corridor tension) anchoring the sense of scale and conflict. The legendary tagline “MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU” crowns the top, while the oversized blue STAR WARS logo and bold red Japanese title 「スター・ウォーズ」 deliver maximum impact. The bottom theatre grid is the crucial regional tell—mapping the Kansai release across Osaka / Kyoto / Kobe venues—making this a true time-capsule of the film’s original Japanese rollout.
Rarity and condition
Nakazuri posters were never meant to be kept; they were disposable advertising ephemera for trains and buses, and very few survive today—especially for global landmark titles like Star Wars. Regional variants like this Kansai issue were produced for a narrower distribution area, making them significantly harder to find than standard national releases.
The poster is in very good original condition for its age (please refer to the imagery of the exact poster for sale). There is a clear original centre fold/crease and additional handling/age-related creasing—most noticeable in the paler right-hand field—along with light edge/corner wear consistent with vintage transport-display ephemera. Colours remain strong and the artwork presents extremely well.
It is nearly 50 years old.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
