“Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back” (スター・ウォーズ／帝国の逆襲), Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1980, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) ZA726

This is an original Japanese B2 poster issued in Japan for the first domestic theatrical release of Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980), the darker, more dramatic second chapter of George Lucas’s Star Wars saga—directed by Irvin Kershner and starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Billy Dee Williams. Widely regarded as the series’ critical high point, The Empire Strikes Back deepens the mythology with unforgettable set-pieces (Hoth, Dagobah, Cloud City), introduces Yoda and Lando Calrissian, and delivers one of cinema’s most famous twists—cementing the film’s status as a cornerstone of modern blockbuster storytelling.

Poster design

A classic Japanese theatrical one-sheet that feels like pure 1980 event cinema. The top banner announces 「STAR WARS シリーズ第2弾！」 (“Star Wars series, Part 2!”), while the central montage stacks iconic imagery into a single explosive composition: the Cloud City platform looms like a futuristic citadel; Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, and Lando take centre stage; R2-D2 and C-3PO anchor the droid silhouette; the AT-AT walkers and snowy battlefield cues evoke Hoth; and a romantic embrace hints at the film’s heightened emotion. The huge red 「スター・ウォーズ」 title slams across the lower third, with 「帝国の逆襲」 in bold blue beneath—an unforgettable Japanese typography pairing that displays beautifully. A true showpiece Star Wars poster in the ideal, frame-friendly B2 format.

Condition

Condition
Excellent. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.

Original fold lines from cinema distribution are present, with light handling wear consistent with age.

It is over 45 years old!

It is not a reproduction or a reprint. Certificate of Authenticity included.