“The Beast Shall Die” (野獣死すべし 復讐のメカニック), Original Release Japanese Speed Poster 1974, Speed Poster Size (Approx. 26 × 73 cm) S294

This is an original Japanese speed poster printed in 1974 for the first Japanese theatrical release of The Beast Shall Die: Fukushū no Mechanic (野獣死すべし 復讐のメカニック), directed by Eizō Sugawa and distributed by Toho. Starring Hiroshi Fujioka, alongside Toshio Kurosawa, Mako Midori, and Akemi Mari, the film combines calculated revenge with the violence and moral ambiguity of Japanese hard-boiled crime fiction.

Film background

Released in 1974, the film adapts the revenge instalment of Haruhiko Ōyabu’s Wild Beast novels, with Sugawa returning to material he had first brought to the screen in his 1959 film starring Tatsuya Nakadai. Film adaptation reference.

Fujioka plays Kunihiko Date, a literature professor pursuing the business interests responsible for his father’s ruin and suicide. His carefully planned campaign brings him closer to the powerful figures behind his family’s destruction, while a detective with connections to his past follows his trail. The story places personal vengeance, corporate power, and ruthless calculation at its centre.

Poster design

The design uses a dramatic red-and-black photographic treatment, with Fujioka’s armed figure dominating the narrow sheet. His dark clothing merges into the background, while his face, hand, and shoulder strap emerge in vivid red. The upright firearm extends towards the upper left, reinforcing the poster’s elongated composition.

Oversized red brush lettering spelling 野獣死すべし runs down the lower half, accompanied by the white subtitle 復讐のメカニック. White vertical advertising copy along the left edge announces his return, burning for revenge.

The restrained palette and forceful typography give the poster an immediate visual impact. The Toho logo, production credits, and printed 1974 copyright line complete this original theatrical design.

About speed posters

Japanese speed posters are long, narrow theatrical advertising sheets. Measuring approximately 26 × 73 cm, this example retains roughly the height of a standard B2 poster within a much slimmer format, giving the central figure and vertical title particular prominence.

Rarity and significance

This original release poster brings together Hiroshi Fujioka, Eizō Sugawa, Haruhiko Ōyabu, and Toho’s 1970s crime cinema. Its striking red-and-black imagery makes it a distinctive piece for collectors of Japanese thrillers, theatrical advertising, and speed poster design.

Condition

Very Good+.

A horizontal fold with visible wear runs across the centre, with additional surface and edge wear apparent in the photograph. Please review the image—it shows the exact poster for sale.

It is over 50 years old!

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.