"TADANORI YOKOO - 73rd Hakone Ekiden Relay Race", Japanese Contemporary Art Poster, Original Offset 1996, Ultra Rare, Size (c.73 x 103cm)

Original Offset Print on Paper, B1 Size (c.73 × 103 cm)
As issued for the 73rd Hakone Ekiden Relay Race in 1997 (design dated 1996)

This is an original 1996 offset print by iconic Japanese graphic designer Tadanori Yokoo, created for the 73rd Hakone Ekiden—Japan’s most prestigious university relay marathon. Commissioned by the Kanto Student Track & Field Federation, the poster encapsulates the pageantry, ambition, and mythic scale of one of Japan’s most-watched sporting events.

The composition centers around a monumental gold runner, cast in radiant light, sprinting through a futuristic dreamscape. A column of silhouetted runners trails behind him, ascending a golden path that cuts through a surreal, digitally-collaged landscape. Elements of traditional Japan—like Mt. Fuji and a Shinto torii gate—float amid abstract color fields, reflective surfaces, and cosmic skies, weaving together myth and modernity in Yokoo’s signature style.

A dynamic red ribbon emblazoned with “HAKONE EKIDEN” winds through the upper half of the print, echoing both marathon finish lines and divine banners. The athletes’ names and university affiliations are woven into the surrounding design. In the lower corner, Yokoo’s printed credit reads: “MAGIC (TADANORI YOKOO 1996)”—a fitting label for the poster’s transcendental atmosphere.

While created for a mainstream national broadcast, Yokoo’s artwork transcends typical promotional design. The offset lithography technique enhances the saturated gradients, precise layering, and almost cinematic depth—hallmarks of Yokoo’s experimental style during the 1990s. The tactile quality and richness of offset remain essential to the artwork’s impact.

This poster is part of a historic archive acquired by Japan Poster Shop from one of Japan’s most dedicated Yokoo collectors, amassed over decades. Issued in extremely limited quantities, especially outside institutional settings, this B1 poster is rarely found in such pristine condition. Unbacked and near mint, it is an exceptional find for fans of Japanese pop culture, graphic history, and the visionary legacy of Tadanori Yokoo.

A striking fusion of sport, national identity, and surreal design, this piece captures Yokoo’s genius at the height of his late-career evolution.

Please refer to the imagery (both front and back) as this is the exact poster that is for sale. 

It is over 29 years old!

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.