THE END OF SUMMER / 小早川家の秋
Japan (Toho), 1961
Original Toho exhibitor / lobby display photo-collage press sheet (B3)
Black‑and‑white photo montage with green spot-colour printing on paper, cinema-used (unbacked)
A superb and genuinely scarce piece of Japanese cinema ephemera: a Toho‑branded (東宝) lobby / exhibitor publicity sheet for Yasujirō Ozu’s Kohayagawa-ke no aki (The End of Summer). These large-format campaign sheets were utilitarian, theatre-facing materials—pinned up, handled, and replaced—and were typically discarded far more often than standard posters, making surviving originals exceptionally hard to find today.
This sheet is particularly striking for its graphic confidence and density of content: a bold green title panel, decorative green border, a collage of black‑and‑white stills, a full cast lineup, and even a wonderful publicity image of Ozu at the camera—all functioning as an “at-a-glance” campaign board for cinemas.
“A rare working artefact of 1961 Japanese exhibition culture—Toho-branded Ozu paper with strong design impact and deep historical character.”
What Kind of Item Is This?
This is a cinema-facing promotional display sheet: a large-format, information-rich montage created to help theatres promote a new release in lobbies and front-of-house display areas. Unlike standard posters—meant to be visually singular—these sheets often functioned like a campaign briefing board, combining stills, cast billing, promotional copy, and prestige notes (festival participation, colour billing, etc.) in one place.
Because they were practical, temporary tools—and not viewed as collectibles—survival rates are extremely low.
Rarity and Market Context
Rarer than posters
Japanese posters were already routinely discarded after a short run; exhibitor-facing montage sheets like this were often treated even more casually—pinned up, replaced, filed, or thrown out. Finding a 1961 survivor for a major Ozu title is uncommon; finding one with this level of visual integrity is more uncommon still.
Why this one stands out
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Toho branding (東宝) + the “first at Toho” Ozu copy is a fascinating distribution/exhibition marker
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Green spot-colour title/border gives it real display power
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A campaign-rich layout with multiple stills + full cast lineup + Ozu-at-camera imagery makes it an unusually complete historical document
Design and On-Sheet Content
Key visual and informational elements include:
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Large green title panel: 小早川家の秋 (with furigana)
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Decorative green border framing the entire composition
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Multiple black-and-white stills arranged in grid and vignette formats
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A central lineup of principal cast, presented as a formal ensemble tableau
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A wonderful promotional image of Ozu operating a film camera (lower left)
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Full cast list in green typography block (including major stars such as 中村鴈治郎, 浪花千栄子, 杉村春子, 笠智衆, 原節子, among others, as printed)
Text and Translation Notes
Below are key on-sheet texts and their English meanings as printed:
Festival note: 昭和36年度 芸術祭参加 — “1961 Arts Festival participation”
Director credit: 小津安二郎（松竹）監督作品 — “A film directed by Yasujirō Ozu (Shochiku)”
Colour billing: 総天然色 — “Full natural colour”
Toho campaign line: 東宝に初めて咲く小津芸術！
“Ozu’s art blooms at Toho for the first time!”
Additional vertical copy on the right celebrates the film’s prestige and star power (including language describing it as an outstanding work set in the atmosphere of autumn and promoted with a major all‑star cast).
Condition
Very good vintage condition for a working exhibitor sheet. Unbacked, with the expected signs of period handling:
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Original fold line(s) visible (typical of how these were stored/issued)
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Light surface rippling/handling creases consistent with age
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Minor edge wear consistent with careful theatre-era use
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Reverse is blank, showing fold structure and gentle paper texture (see photos)
Please review the provided photos — they show the exact item offered.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
