The Hidden Fortress (隠し砦の三悪人), Official Japanese Toho DVD Promotional Poster 2007, Not for Sale, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) Q217

This is an official Japanese B2 promotional poster issued by Toho in 2007 for the DVD release of The Hidden Fortress (隠し砦の三悪人), Akira Kurosawa’s classic 1958 samurai adventure. This is not a theatrical release poster, but an official non-sale / hibaihin promotional item produced as part of Toho’s Kurosawa DVD campaign.

The lower margin confirms its status with the printed text “© 2007 TOHO CO., LTD. NOT FOR SALE. FOR PROMOTIONAL USE ONLY.” Original Toho promotional posters of this type were not sold commercially and were generally distributed in very limited numbers for DVD promotion, making clean examples increasingly difficult to find.

Film background
Directed by Akira Kurosawa, The Hidden Fortress stars Toshirō Mifune, Misa Uehara, Minoru Chiaki, Kamatari Fujiwara, and Susumu Fujita. The film follows two greedy peasants who become unwillingly entangled in a dangerous mission to escort a hidden princess and her loyal general across enemy territory.

One of Kurosawa’s most entertaining and influential works, The Hidden Fortress combines action, comedy, widescreen spectacle, and political intrigue. It is celebrated for its dynamic use of the TohoScope format, Mifune’s commanding performance as General Rokurota Makabe, and its lasting influence on adventure cinema.

Poster design
This official Toho promotional poster faithfully uses the striking visual language of the original campaign. At centre, Toshirō Mifune dominates the composition, sword raised in a powerful defensive stance against a rugged mountain landscape. Beside him stands Misa Uehara as Princess Yuki, also armed, giving the design a strong sense of urgency and movement.

The large gold title 隠し砦の三悪人 runs vertically down the left side, while the TOHO SCOPE mark appears prominently at the top, reinforcing the film’s widescreen presentation. On the right, bold vertical text identifies it as 黒沢明監督作品 — “A film directed by Akira Kurosawa.” The lower section carries dense cast and production credits, echoing the layout of vintage Japanese theatrical advertising.

For collectors, this poster is especially appealing because it is an official Toho promotional item, not a modern decorative reproduction. It offers the visual presence of the classic campaign artwork in a clean, displayable B2 format.

Condition
Near Mint condition. Please review the photos; they show the exact poster for sale.

This poster is an official Japanese Toho B2 promotional poster from 2007.
It was issued as a not-for-sale DVD promotional item.
It is not a reproduction or an unofficial reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.