"Star Wars: Return of the Jedi", Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1983, B2 Size (51 x 73cm) N269

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed for the first Japanese release of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in 1983.

Featuring the celebrated painted artwork of Kazuhiko Sano, this was one of several B2 designs produced for the film’s original Japanese campaign. Sano’s spectacular ensemble composition became one of the defining international images for the concluding chapter of George Lucas’s original Star Wars trilogy.

Film background

Directed by Richard Marquand from a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas, Return of the Jedi completed the story begun with Star Wars in 1977 and continued through The Empire Strikes Back in 1980.

The film follows Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and their allies as they rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt and join the Rebel Alliance’s final assault against the Galactic Empire. While the Rebel fleet attacks the second Death Star and the Ewoks battle Imperial forces on Endor, Luke confronts Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine in a final attempt to redeem his father.

The film stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Ian McDiarmid, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew and David Prowse, with John Williams returning to compose the monumental orchestral score.

Released in Japan on 2 July 1983, the film was promoted as the concluding chapter of the original series. The headline across the top of the poster declares:

「STAR WARSシリーズ第3弾 → 完結篇！」
“The third Star Wars film—the concluding chapter!”

The original Japanese title

The poster preserves the film’s original 1983 Japanese title:

「スター・ウォーズ／ジェダイの復讐」
Star Wars: Revenge of the Jedi

Although George Lucas changed the English title from Revenge of the Jedi to Return of the Jedi before release, the Japanese campaign retained ジェダイの復讐, or “Revenge of the Jedi.” Posters and associated promotional material had already been prepared using that title, which remained in use in Japan until the official Japanese name was changed to ジェダイの帰還—“Return of the Jedi”—in 2004.

The combination of the small English Return of the Jedi logo and the enormous Japanese Revenge of the Jedi title makes original 1983 Japanese material particularly interesting from a historical and collecting perspective.

Poster design

Kazuhiko Sano’s densely layered composition places Luke Skywalker and Han Solo at the centre of the action. Luke raises a brilliant blue-white lightsaber diagonally across the image while Han aims his blaster directly towards the viewer. Behind them, the immense shadow of Darth Vader emerges from deep space, framed by the unfinished second Death Star, X-wings and TIE fighters.

Princess Leia appears prominently in her costume from Jabba’s palace, surrounded by characters including Jabba the Hutt, an Ewok, Lando Calrissian and members of Jabba’s entourage. The arrangement moves from the vast interstellar conflict above to the film’s heroes and creatures below, encapsulating the extraordinary narrative and visual scale of the trilogy’s conclusion.

The poster’s enormous turquoise Japanese Star Wars typography contrasts dramatically with the predominantly black background, while the red subtitle 「ジェダイの復讐」 anchors the lower margin. The black, turquoise and vivid red palette gives the Japanese B2 a particularly powerful graphic presence.

Condition

This poster is in Very Good+ condition.

It has small original display pinholes and several very minor edge tears, together with light handling and creasing consistent with a cinema-used poster of this age. These points are visible in the detailed photographs of both the front and verso of the exact poster offered for sale.

The central artwork remains vivid and complete, with excellent colour and strong contrast. Once professionally framed, it will display extremely well.

The condition has been fully taken into account when pricing the poster.

It is over 40 years old.

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.