{"product_id":"the-empire-strikes-back-スター-ウォーズ-帝国の逆襲-original-japanese-international-style-movie-poster-1980-b2-size-51-x-73cm-n146a","title":"“The Empire Strikes Back” (スター・ウォーズ／帝国の逆襲), Original Japanese “International Style” Movie Poster 1980, B2 Size (51 x 73cm) N146A","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eoriginal Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed in 1980 for the first Japanese release of The Empire Strikes Back\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the second film in the original Star Wars trilogy. This is the rare \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJapanese “International Style” variant\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, retaining the English campaign typography while carrying the official Japanese distribution credit at the bottom for \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eToho Co., Ltd.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFilm background\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReleased in 1980, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Empire Strikes Back\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is widely regarded as one of the greatest sequels in cinema history and one of the defining science-fiction films of the twentieth century. Directed by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIrvin Kershner\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, from a story by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGeorge Lucas\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the film stars \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMark Hamill\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHarrison Ford\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCarrie Fisher\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBilly Dee Williams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnthony Daniels\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeter Mayhew\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKenny Baker\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDavid Prowse\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe film deepened the mythology of Star Wars, introducing \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYoda\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLando Calrissian\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Cloud City, the icy world of Hoth, and one of the most famous revelations in modern cinema. Its darker tone, emotional complexity, and expanded world-building made it a landmark in blockbuster filmmaking.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePoster design\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis poster features the celebrated artwork by Japanese illustrator \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNoriyoshi Ohrai\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, whose dense, painterly style became closely associated with the visual identity of Star Wars in Japan. Ohrai’s composition is a dramatic and highly detailed montage, with the spectral presence of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDarth Vader\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e looming across the upper background, his helmet emerging from a star-filled cosmic field.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt the centre, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHan Solo and Princess Leia\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e are shown in an intimate embrace, while \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLuke Skywalker\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLando Calrissian\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChewbacca\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eC-3PO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eR2-D2\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e occupy the heroic central grouping. Around them, the poster layers key imagery from the film: the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBattle of Hoth\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, AT-AT walkers, Rebel trenches, a probe droid, Cloud City, a Star Destroyer, TIE fighters, and radiant starburst effects.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe top line reads \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“THE STAR WARS SAGA CONTINUES”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, while the lower right retains the English title treatment \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEMPIRE STRIKES BACK\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. This gives the poster a very different character from the more familiar Japanese B2 release style with large red katakana text.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRarity and significance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is a particularly desirable Japanese variant because it combines \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNoriyoshi Ohrai artwork\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, official \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJapanese Toho distribution\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEnglish international campaign title layout\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Unlike the standard Japanese theatrical poster, this version has a more global visual identity while still being an authentic Japanese release artifact.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal Japanese Star Wars posters from the first-release era are already highly collectible, and this \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInternational Style Empire Strikes Back B2\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is especially sought after by collectors of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStar Wars\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNoriyoshi Ohrai\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Japanese film posters, and original trilogy material.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVery Good. The poster presents strongly overall with excellent colour and image impact. There is minor damage at the lower right corner border area, as shown in the detail photographs. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt is over \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e46 years old!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt is not a reproduction or a reprint.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCertificate of Authenticity included.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Japan Poster Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56933092524410,"sku":null,"price":450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0424\/8859\/4591\/files\/wall-shelf-with-ornaments-2026-05-30T060703.095.jpg?v=1780088841","url":"https:\/\/japanposter.co.uk\/products\/the-empire-strikes-back-%e3%82%b9%e3%82%bf%e3%83%bc-%e3%82%a6%e3%82%a9%e3%83%bc%e3%82%ba-%e5%b8%9d%e5%9b%bd%e3%81%ae%e9%80%86%e8%a5%b2-original-japanese-international-style-movie-poster-1980-b2-size-51-x-73cm-n146a","provider":"Japan Poster Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}