{"product_id":"star-wars-1977-original-japanese-b0-eki-bari-billboard-poster-art-by-seito-holy-grail-rarity-massive-format-first-japanese-release-campaign-1978-c-99-157-cm-39-62-in-g-copy-2","title":"“Star Wars”, Original First-Release Japanese Movie Poster 1978, Ultra Rare Seito “Style A”, Linen-Backed \u0026 Restored by Fourth Cone Restoration, B1 Size Approx. 73 × 103 cm \/ 29 × 40 in","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-conversation-screenshot-content=\"\" class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"12c40a02-0dc5-4488-866f-574a4cfe6b55\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-5-pro\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full light markdown-new-styling\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"186\" data-end=\"522\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eThis is an \u003cstrong data-start=\"197\" data-end=\"242\"\u003eoriginal Japanese first-release B1 poster\u003c\/strong\u003e, printed for the \u003cstrong data-start=\"260\" data-end=\"309\"\u003e1978 Japanese theatrical release of Star Wars\u003c\/strong\u003e — Japanese title: \u003cstrong data-start=\"328\" data-end=\"340\"\u003eスター・ウォーズ\u003c\/strong\u003e. This is the exceptionally rare large-format \u003cstrong data-start=\"386\" data-end=\"408\"\u003eB1 Seito “Style A”\u003c\/strong\u003e poster, measuring approximately \u003cstrong data-start=\"441\" data-end=\"469\"\u003e73 × 103 cm \/ 29 × 40 in\u003c\/strong\u003e, double the size of the standard Japanese B2 format.\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"524\" data-end=\"970\"\u003eFeaturing exclusive painted artwork by the acclaimed Japanese illustrator \u003cstrong data-start=\"598\" data-end=\"607\"\u003eSeito\u003c\/strong\u003e, this is one of the most celebrated Japan-only poster designs for the first Star Wars film. Luke raises the lightsaber in a burst of light, Leia stands wind-swept in flowing white, Darth Vader’s image looms across the star field, X-wings sweep toward the Death Star, and the iconic English tagline appears at top: \u003cstrong data-start=\"922\" data-end=\"970\"\u003e“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"972\" data-end=\"1521\"\u003eDirected by \u003cstrong data-start=\"984\" data-end=\"1000\"\u003eGeorge Lucas\u003c\/strong\u003e and starring \u003cstrong data-start=\"1014\" data-end=\"1142\"\u003eMark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness, Anthony Daniels, Peter Cushing, David Prowse, and James Earl Jones\u003c\/strong\u003e, Star Wars became one of the most influential films ever made — redefining modern special effects, franchise filmmaking, and global popular culture. The Japanese release campaign is especially important within Star Wars poster collecting because it used distinctive illustrated artwork created for the Japanese market, rather than simply adapting standard international key art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1523\" data-end=\"1910\"\u003eStar Wars opened in Japan one year after its U.S. release, with advance screenings beginning on \u003cstrong data-start=\"1619\" data-end=\"1636\"\u003eJune 24, 1978\u003c\/strong\u003e, followed by general release on \u003cstrong data-start=\"1669\" data-end=\"1685\"\u003eJuly 1, 1978\u003c\/strong\u003e. This poster reflects that moment precisely: the lower-left award callouts proudly reference the film’s major Academy Awards success, aligning with the Japanese theatrical rollout after the film’s 1978 awards-season triumph.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1912\" data-end=\"2443\"\u003eThe design is Seito’s legendary \u003cstrong data-start=\"1944\" data-end=\"1957\"\u003e“Style A”\u003c\/strong\u003e composition — a dramatic, painterly reinterpretation of the Star Wars mythos. The sheet includes many of the most desirable elements of the Japanese campaign: the English opening line at top, Vader’s monumental presence in the cosmos, the Death Star rendered in a striking orientation, X-wings in formation, the bold blue \u003cstrong data-start=\"2280\" data-end=\"2293\"\u003eSTAR WARS\u003c\/strong\u003e logo at lower right, the red Japanese title \u003cstrong data-start=\"2338\" data-end=\"2350\"\u003eスター・ウォーズ\u003c\/strong\u003e beneath, and the dense Japanese credits block with 20th Century Fox, Dolby, and Eirin marks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2445\" data-end=\"2712\"\u003eAt lower left, the poster features a row of Oscar statuettes and award callouts. At the 50th Academy Awards, Star Wars won six competitive Oscars, plus the Academy’s Special Achievement Award — a total often promoted in period advertising as \u003cstrong data-start=\"2687\" data-end=\"2711\"\u003eseven Academy Awards\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2714\" data-end=\"3243\"\u003eOf all Japanese posters produced for the first Star Wars film, the \u003cstrong data-start=\"2781\" data-end=\"2801\"\u003eB1 Seito Style A\u003c\/strong\u003e is among the most elusive. The standard Japanese B2 version is already highly collectible, but the B1 format is in a different category altogether. These larger posters were produced in far smaller numbers and intended for major theatrical display in cinema lobbies, large theatres, and prominent advertising cases. Their size made them difficult to store, and most examples were folded, displayed, pasted, discarded, or damaged through use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3245\" data-end=\"3620\"\u003eWith no official print records publicly available, a cautious collector-market estimate would place B1 production at only a fraction of the standard B2 campaign — likely at least \u003cstrong data-start=\"3424\" data-end=\"3451\"\u003e10× rarer at production\u003c\/strong\u003e, and scarcer still in surviving, collectible condition today. For serious Star Wars collectors, this is the \u003cstrong data-start=\"3560\" data-end=\"3576\"\u003egrail format\u003c\/strong\u003e for Seito’s 1978 Japanese campaign artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3622\" data-end=\"3777\"\u003eThis example was \u003cstrong data-start=\"3639\" data-end=\"3680\"\u003esourced in Japan by Japan Poster Shop\u003c\/strong\u003e and is only the second B1-format example of this design we have personally encountered in Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3779\" data-end=\"4131\"\u003eWe sent this poster from Tokyo to California, where it was professionally conserved, restored, and linen-backed by \u003cstrong data-start=\"3894\" data-end=\"3921\"\u003eFourth Cone Restoration\u003c\/strong\u003e, one of the premier restoration studios in the field. The work provides long-term stabilization and ensures the poster is fully display-ready. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4133\" data-end=\"4376\"\u003eThis is an important original Japanese theatrical poster from one of the most culturally significant films of the modern era. It is \u003cstrong data-start=\"4265\" data-end=\"4305\"\u003enot a reproduction or modern reprint\u003c\/strong\u003e — this is an \u003cstrong data-start=\"4319\" data-end=\"4375\"\u003eoriginal 1978 Japanese first-release B1 movie poster\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4378\" data-end=\"4406\"\u003eIt is over \u003cstrong data-start=\"4389\" data-end=\"4405\"\u003e47 years old\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4408\" data-end=\"4594\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"4408\" data-end=\"4421\"\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"4421\" data-end=\"4424\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"4424\" data-end=\"4457\"\u003eExcellent; appears near mint.\u003c\/strong\u003e Professionally restored and linen-backed by \u003cstrong data-start=\"4502\" data-end=\"4529\"\u003eFourth Cone Restoration\u003c\/strong\u003e. Please review the photos — they show the exact poster for sale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4596\" data-end=\"4687\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"4596\" data-end=\"4637\"\u003eCertificate of Authenticity included.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"6784\" data-start=\"6702\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e*Please note the price is fixed for this item. It is not included in any of our periodic sales (e.g. Black Friday)!*\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Japan Poster Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57038568128890,"sku":null,"price":5950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0424\/8859\/4591\/files\/StarWarsSeito_Restored_3690.jpg?v=1785196925","url":"https:\/\/japanposter.co.uk\/products\/star-wars-1977-original-japanese-b0-eki-bari-billboard-poster-art-by-seito-holy-grail-rarity-massive-format-first-japanese-release-campaign-1978-c-99-157-cm-39-62-in-g-copy-2","provider":"Japan Poster Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}