“Teriyaki Boyz – Serious Japanese”, Rare Original Japanese Promotional Poster 2009, NIGO / BAPE Shark Hoodie Design, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) T24

This is an original Japanese B2 promotional poster produced for the 2009 release of Serious Japanese, the second studio album by Teriyaki Boyz. Featuring a striking composition of BAPE Shark Hoodies, the poster brings together Japanese hip-hop, streetwear, and the creative world of NIGO, founder of A Bathing Ape.

Album background

Released in Japan on 28 January 2009, Serious Japanese followed the group’s debut album, Beef or Chicken. Teriyaki Boyz brought together ILMARI, RYO-Z, VERBAL, WISE, and NIGO, combining established Japanese rap talent with an ambitious international network of collaborators.

The album features production contributions from The Neptunes, Kanye West, and Ad-Rock of the Beastie Boys, with tracks including “Work That” featuring Pharrell and Chris Brown, “Teriyaking” featuring Kanye West and Big Sean, and “Tokyo Drift (Fast & Furious)”. It captures a distinctive period when Japanese streetwear and American hip-hop were becoming increasingly connected. 

Poster design

The design is dominated by tightly packed rows of figures wearing fully zipped BAPE Shark Hoodies. Their concealed faces are replaced by the garment’s unmistakable shark teeth, eyes, and central zipper, creating a repeating pattern that is both playful and confrontational.

Variations in grey, white, black, green, and peach break up the formation, while the overlapping figures give the composition depth. A small Teriyaki Boyz chest logo provides a focal point among the repeated shark faces.

Large, angular orange-red lettering spells out “SERIOUS JAPANESE” across the top and “TERIYAKI BOYZ®” along the bottom. The vivid typography frames the image and gives it the immediate impact of both a music advertisement and a streetwear campaign.

The narrow information strip below promotes “Work That”, the 28 January album release, and the “Do You Like Japan? Tour”, with dates across Japan in February and March 2009. These details connect the poster directly to the original promotional campaign.

About Japanese promotional posters

Japanese B2 promotional posters, measuring approximately 51 × 73 cm, were produced to advertise releases and events. This example combines album artwork, single-release information, catalogue numbers, and tour dates, preserving the wider campaign surrounding Serious Japanese on a single sheet.

Rarity and significance

This poster has particular appeal for collectors of NIGO, A Bathing Ape, Teriyaki Boyz, Japanese hip-hop, and 2000s streetwear culture. The Shark Hoodie imagery makes the relationship between the group’s music and BAPE’s visual identity especially clear.

That broader cultural significance is reflected in the Design Museum’s 2026 exhibition, NIGO: From Japan with Love, whose exhibition guide includes Serious Japanese and Teriyaki Boyz merchandise from 2005–09. The poster belongs to this same period of collaboration between fashion, music, and graphic design. 

Condition

Excellent+. Please review the photos, including both front and back—they show the exact poster for sale.

It is over 17 years old!

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.