{"product_id":"takara-shochu-jun-david-bowie-original-release-japanese-promotional-nakazuri-train-subway-poster-1980-b3-size-36-51-cm-copy","title":"“David Bowie \/ Crystal Japan”, Original Japanese RCA Records Promotional Poster 1980, Ultra Rare B2 Landscape Size (73 × 51 cm) S209","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eThis is an \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal Japanese RCA Records promotional poster\u003c\/strong\u003e, produced in \u003cstrong\u003e1980\u003c\/strong\u003e for \u003cstrong\u003eDavid Bowie\u003c\/strong\u003e and closely associated with the Japan-only release of his instrumental single \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCrystal Japan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e and the celebrated \u003cstrong\u003eTakara Shochu “Jun”\u003c\/strong\u003e advertising campaign.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrinted in a landscape format measuring approximately \u003cstrong\u003e73 × 51 cm\u003c\/strong\u003e — essentially \u003cstrong\u003eJapanese B2 dimensions turned horizontally\u003c\/strong\u003e — this is a genuine \u003cstrong\u003eRCA Japan music-industry promotional poster\u003c\/strong\u003e, using the same image as the Takara liquor advertisement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeriod collector documentation identifies this exact RCA poster as a \u003cstrong\u003e1980 Japanese issue\u003c\/strong\u003e, using an image photographed in Japan during the period in which Bowie filmed the Takara Shochu “Jun” campaign. The same portrait was also used in connection with the Japanese \u003cstrong\u003e“Crystal Japan”\u003c\/strong\u003e single. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical background\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn early \u003cstrong\u003e1980\u003c\/strong\u003e, David Bowie travelled to Japan to participate in an extraordinary advertising campaign for \u003cstrong\u003eTakara Shuzo’s Shochu “Jun”\u003c\/strong\u003e, specifically its \u003cstrong\u003eCrystal Jun Rock\u003c\/strong\u003e promotion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe television advertisements were filmed in \u003cstrong\u003eKyoto\u003c\/strong\u003e, at a Zen temple location selected by Bowie himself. For the campaign he provided the haunting instrumental composition that became \u003cstrong\u003e“Crystal Japan.”\u003c\/strong\u003e Bowie’s official website confirms that the track was used in the Japanese commercial and subsequently released as a \u003cstrong\u003eJapan-only RCA single in July 1980\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Japanese 7-inch release was issued by \u003cstrong\u003eRCA as SS-3270\u003c\/strong\u003e, backed with Bowie’s interpretation of Brecht and Weill’s \u003cstrong\u003e“Alabama Song.”\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe campaign represents one of the most fascinating intersections between \u003cstrong\u003eDavid Bowie, Japanese advertising culture and his experimental music of the Berlin \/ \u003cem\u003eScary Monsters\u003c\/em\u003e period\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePoster design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn extraordinarily elegant and restrained Bowie portrait.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRather than using conventional record-release typography, album artwork or extensive promotional text, the poster presents Bowie almost entirely as an \u003cstrong\u003eimage\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe sits against an ethereal, pale background wearing an immaculate \u003cstrong\u003ewhite buttoned shirt\u003c\/strong\u003e, his hair neatly swept back and his expression characteristically cool and unreadable. In his hand is a short tumbler containing a clear drink, subtly preserving the visual connection to the Takara Shochu campaign without displaying any liquor branding whatsoever.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBehind Bowie floats an enormous \u003cstrong\u003edeep red flower\u003c\/strong\u003e, its saturated crimson petals and dark blue-green foliage providing the sole major burst of colour against the otherwise muted cream, white and pale-blue composition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe effect is wonderfully surreal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBowie appears almost impossibly composed and otherworldly, while the oversized flower introduces a distinctly Japanese visual sensibility—minimal, decorative and dreamlike rather than conventionally rock-and-roll.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the extreme upper-left corner appears only the blue:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRCA\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003elogo, together with Bowie’s familiar printed:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDavid Bowie\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003esignature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is \u003cstrong\u003eno album title, no commercial tagline, no pricing, no catalogue advertising and no Takara Shochu branding\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis extreme restraint is what makes the poster so visually powerful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe RCA promotional version\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe distinction between this poster and the better-known \u003cstrong\u003eTakara Shochu “Jun” advertising material\u003c\/strong\u003e is important.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTakara’s commercial campaign posters were designed to sell the drink and consequently carry \u003cstrong\u003eproduct bottles, Japanese advertising copy, branding and price information\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis sheet is instead an \u003cstrong\u003eRCA Records promotional issue\u003c\/strong\u003e. The alcohol-product advertising has been completely removed, leaving only Bowie’s portrait, the RCA mark and his printed signature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeriod specialist documentation describes this exact design as an \u003cstrong\u003e“Original RCA Japan poster” from 1980\u003c\/strong\u003e, measuring approximately \u003cstrong\u003e28¾ × 20¼ inches\u003c\/strong\u003e, and specifically notes that the image was taken in Japan during Bowie's involvement with the Takara Shochu “Jun” advertisement. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat makes this a particularly desirable piece for Bowie collectors: it belongs to the same celebrated Japanese cultural moment as the Shochu campaign, while functioning as a \u003cstrong\u003epure music-industry promotional poster\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Crystal Japan”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe instrumental itself is one of Bowie’s most distinctive Japan-linked recordings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecorded during the \u003cstrong\u003e1980 \u003cem\u003eScary Monsters\u003c\/em\u003e sessions\u003c\/strong\u003e with producer \u003cstrong\u003eTony Visconti\u003c\/strong\u003e, the piece was originally known under the working title \u003cstrong\u003e“Fuji Moto San”\u003c\/strong\u003e before being released as \u003cstrong\u003e“Crystal Japan.”\u003c\/strong\u003e Bowie’s official site records its Japanese single release in July 1980 and its use in the Takara television campaign. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe recording is unusually sparse and atmospheric for Bowie, lacking the conventional rock instrumentation associated with many of his singles and instead creating a slow, contemplative electronic soundscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was initially a \u003cstrong\u003eJapan-only release\u003c\/strong\u003e, adding considerably to the mystique of both the record and the promotional material associated with it. It later became more widely available when issued as the B-side to \u003cstrong\u003e“Up the Hill Backwards”\u003c\/strong\u003e outside Japan in 1981. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJapan-only collectibility\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOriginal Japanese Bowie promotional material from this period is highly sought after, but this RCA design is particularly elusive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike commercially sold records, promotional posters were \u003cstrong\u003eworking advertising material\u003c\/strong\u003e, intended for record shops and music-industry display rather than preservation or direct retail sale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce a campaign ended, such material was commonly discarded, damaged during display, or simply lost.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe combination of:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDavid Bowie\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRCA Japan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1980\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Crystal Japan”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ethe Takara Shochu campaign connection\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eand this exceptionally minimalist \u003cstrong\u003eJapan-only portrait design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003emakes this a superb crossover piece for collectors of \u003cstrong\u003eBowie, Japanese music memorabilia, record-store advertising and 20th-century graphic design\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReverse-side provenance detail\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse carries a wonderful surviving piece of period retail history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the upper-left is handwritten red Japanese identification reading Bowie’s name, apparently added so that the poster could be \u003cstrong\u003eidentified while stored face-inward or rolled among other promotional material\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is not part of the printed design, but rather a historic storage \/ inventory annotation on the reverse and is entirely consistent with the poster’s original promotional use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe regard this kind of period shop annotation as part of the object’s history rather than a meaningful distraction from its presentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is approximately \u003cstrong\u003e46 years old\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExcellent.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA particularly attractive surviving example of this \u003cstrong\u003eultra-rare RCA Japan promotional poster\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe portrait remains beautifully preserved, with \u003cstrong\u003estrong natural skin tones, excellent definition in Bowie’s face and clothing, and particularly vivid colour in the enormous red flower\u003c\/strong\u003e. The RCA logo and printed Bowie signature remain crisp and clear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is \u003cstrong\u003elight age-related handling, subtle surface character and some gentle toning \/ scattered age spotting\u003c\/strong\u003e, particularly apparent on the reverse and pale areas, all entirely consistent with an original promotional sheet from 1980.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are no major defects that materially compromise the central portrait or overall visual impact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse retains the aforementioned \u003cstrong\u003eperiod handwritten Japanese identification\u003c\/strong\u003e, providing an appealing trace of its original life as promotional material.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOnce framed, it will display exceptionally well.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease review the front and reverse photographs carefully—they show the exact poster for sale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis is an original 1980 Japanese RCA Records promotional poster. It is not a reproduction or modern reprint.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCertificate of Authenticity included.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Japan Poster Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57250821013882,"sku":null,"price":985.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0424\/8859\/4591\/files\/wall-shelf-with-ornaments-2026-09-10T063632.557.jpg?v=1788989858","url":"https:\/\/japanposter.co.uk\/products\/takara-shochu-jun-david-bowie-original-release-japanese-promotional-nakazuri-train-subway-poster-1980-b3-size-36-51-cm-copy","provider":"Japan Poster Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}