“Star Wars” Coca-Cola Campaign (スター・ウォーズ プレゼント), Original Japanese Promotional Poster 1978, Ultra Rare Sanyo Regional Edition, B3 Size (c. 36 × 51 cm) R21

This is an original Japanese Coca-Cola retail promotional poster produced for the summer 1978 Star Wars campaign, issued by Sanyo Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Ltd. during the film’s original Japanese release period.

Measuring approximately 36 × 51 cm, this B3-format poster combines colourful character artwork, monumental Star Wars lettering and Coca-Cola branding. Its deep blue starfield, vivid red typography and golden bottle-cap portraits create a particularly striking piece of early Japanese film merchandising.

Campaign background

Directed by George Lucas, Star Wars opened nationwide in Japan on 1 July 1978, following its American debut the previous year. Coca-Cola’s accompanying promotion brought the film’s characters into everyday Japanese shopping through specially marked bottles, collectible cap images and prize offers.

This Sanyo regional edition identifies the participating prefectures as Hiroshima, Okayama, Yamaguchi, Tottori and Shimane. The campaign advertised 50 different film images beneath bottle caps, alongside cash prizes of ¥500, ¥100, ¥50 and ¥10.

Customers could also submit five cap liners to enter drawings for an R2-D2-shaped AM radio, with 2,000 winners advertised across the region. Radio entries closed on 31 August 1978, while winning cash-prize caps remained redeemable until 31 October 1978.

Poster design

Luke Skywalker stands between C-3PO and R2-D2, raising his lightsaber above an enormous, three-dimensional STAR WARS logo. The lettering shifts from crimson to orange and gold, projecting dramatically towards the viewer.

Above them, the white “DRINK Coca-Cola” script sits against a radiant starburst. An arch of golden bottle caps frames the scene, displaying portraits and film images including Princess Leia, Darth Vader, Han Solo, Chewbacca and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

The curved Japanese headline reads:

「王冠のうらにスター・ウォーズのスーパーシーン50種類登場」
“50 different Star Wars ‘super scenes’ appear beneath the bottle caps.”

Across the lower section, illustrated Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprite bottles separate the cash-prize offer from the R2-D2 radio promotion. Red banners, blue lettering and a yellow footer organise the campaign information.

Cultural significance

This poster documents the meeting of early Star Wars merchandising and Japanese soft-drink advertising. Its regional campaign details give it a specific connection to western Japan, while the distinctive illustration and prominent branding offer appeal to both Star Wars and Coca-Cola collectors.

According to the previous owner, this poster was displayed in their grandmother’s former shop which had a bottled Coca-Cola vending machine at the premises.

Condition

Very Good+ / Excellent. The poster retains strong colour and clear detail. Minor edge wear and small edge tears and losses are visible, particularly along the top and right margins. The reverse shows light age-related toning and scattered spotting. We have taken the condition into account when pricing. Once framed, this poster will display excellently.

Please review the photographs—they show the exact poster for sale.

This is an original Japanese Coca-Cola promotional poster from 1978.
It is not a reproduction or a modern reprint.

It is approximately 48 years old.

Certificate of Authenticity included.