{"product_id":"the-idiot-白痴-original-japanese-movie-poster-1978-re-release-b2-size-51-73-cm-o698-copy","title":"“The Idiot \/ Hakuchi”, Original Japanese Shochiku CBS\/FOX Video Promotional Poster c. 1985–1988, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) O861","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"flex flex-col text-sm pb-25\"\u003e\n\u003carticle class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none [--shadow-height:45px] has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none has-data-writing-block:-mt-(--shadow-height) has-data-writing-block:pt-(--shadow-height) [\u0026amp;:has([data-writing-block])\u0026gt;*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" dir=\"auto\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:--spacing(4)] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(6)] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(16)] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[1px]\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full break-words light markdown-new-styling\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eoriginal Japanese B2 promotional poster produced for the Shochiku CBS\/FOX Video release of Akira Kurosawa’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Idiot\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (白痴 \/ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHakuchi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e), his extraordinary 1951 adaptation of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s celebrated novel.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStarring an exceptional cast led by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSetsuko Hara, Masayuki Mori, Toshiro Mifune, Yoshiko Kuga,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTakashi Shimura\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the film relocates Dostoevsky’s story from 19th-century Russia to the stark winter landscapes of post-war Hokkaido.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUnlike an original theatrical poster, this striking B2 was created during Japan’s premium home-video era for \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShochiku CBS\/FOX Video\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, which operated under that name during the mid-to-late 1980s. It promoted the surviving \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e166-minute version as a two-cassette VHS set priced at ¥16,800\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, making it a fascinating artefact from the period when classic Japanese cinema was being rediscovered and marketed to video collectors and rental stores.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFilm background\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReleased in Japan in 1951, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Idiot\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was one of Kurosawa’s most ambitious literary adaptations.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe story centres on Kinji Kameda, played by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMasayuki Mori\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a traumatised and profoundly compassionate former soldier returning to civilian life after the Second World War. During his journey to Hokkaido he meets the volatile Denkichi Akama, played by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eToshiro Mifune\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and becomes drawn into an increasingly destructive emotional triangle surrounding the beautiful and tormented Taeko Nasu, played by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSetsuko Hara\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKurosawa preserves many of Dostoevsky’s central concerns—\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003einnocence, obsession, jealousy, compassion, psychological trauma, and the destructive consequences of possessive love\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e—while transforming the Russian winter landscape into the snow-covered streets and plains of Hokkaido.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe film was originally completed at approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e265 minutes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, but Shochiku required substantial cuts and the surviving version runs 166 minutes. Shochiku’s own archive confirms that the production was originally four hours and twenty-five minutes before being reduced to its present length.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe loss of Kurosawa’s original cut has subsequently contributed to the film’s reputation as one of the great tantalising “what might have been” works of his career.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePoster design\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis Japanese B2 is an exceptionally elegant piece of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1980s graphic design applied to one of the major works of post-war Japanese cinema\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe upper third is dominated by the enormous title:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e「白痴」\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“The Idiot”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe two kanji are rendered in a striking \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003emuted lavender-purple against a deep black field\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, giving the poster an immediate modernist presence. The scale and simplicity of the typography contrast dramatically with the monochrome imagery below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBetween the characters appears:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e「黒澤明 監督作品」\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“A Film Directed by Akira Kurosawa.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe central photographic image depicts \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSetsuko Hara and Masayuki Mori in a bleak snow-covered Hokkaido landscape\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Hara’s figure sits low in the snow while Mori stands above her in heavy winter clothing, the surrounding bare trees and distant architecture creating an atmosphere of profound isolation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe snowy setting is particularly important to the film. Kurosawa translated Dostoevsky’s Russian environment into Hokkaido, using winter landscapes, snow festivals, dark interiors, and freezing streets to create a Japanese equivalent for the novel’s psychological and physical world.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCircular photographic insets provide further glimpses of the film’s emotional intensity, including \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eToshiro Mifune and Setsuko Hara illuminated by candlelight\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, alongside another intimate confrontation between the principal characters.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe combination of stark black-and-white photography, black ground, and monumental lavender title gives the poster an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eunusually sophisticated, almost museum-exhibition quality\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJapanese campaign copy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRunning vertically along the right side is the promotional line:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e「世界の批評家が絶賛した\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e幻の超大作!!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e黒澤明が精魂を傾けた\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eドストエフスキーの\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e愛の名作！」\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eApproximately:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“The legendary epic acclaimed by critics around the world! A masterpiece of love by Dostoevsky into which Akira Kurosawa poured his heart and soul!”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe description of the film as a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e「幻の超大作」—a “legendary” or “phantom epic”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e—is particularly resonant given the fate of Kurosawa’s original 265-minute version.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePremium Japanese home-video release\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe bottom of the poster prominently announces:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e「ビデオ・カセット新発売」\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“New Video Cassette Release”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003efollowed by the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShochiku CBS\/FOX Video\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e branding.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe technical and retail information states:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMonochrome \/ 166 minutes \/ Hi-Fi Mono \/ Two-cassette set \/ ¥16,800\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe extraordinarily high price is characteristic of the early Japanese home-video market, when VHS editions of prestige films were often aimed primarily at \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003erental stores, specialist retailers, institutions, and serious private collectors\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e rather than the inexpensive mass-market home-video audience that emerged later.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis gives the poster an additional layer of collecting interest: it documents not only Kurosawa’s film, but also the moment when major works of Japanese cinema were being newly packaged as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003epremium physical-media objects\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCultural significance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Idiot\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e occupies a fascinating position within Kurosawa’s career.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt followed \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRashomon\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and preceded \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIkiru\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, placing it at the very beginning of the extraordinary period that would establish Kurosawa as one of the dominant figures of world cinema.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt also brought together several of post-war Japan’s greatest actors. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSetsuko Hara\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, internationally synonymous with the cinema of Yasujirō Ozu, appears here in one of her most emotionally extreme roles, while Toshiro Mifune delivers one of the intensely physical performances that defined his early collaborations with Kurosawa.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor collectors, this poster therefore brings together \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAkira Kurosawa, Dostoevsky, Setsuko Hara, Toshiro Mifune, mid-century Japanese cinema, and the design culture of Japan’s 1980s home-video boom\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e within a single highly distinctive graphic object.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExcellent.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The poster retains \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003edeep blacks, crisp photographic detail, strong lavender-purple typography, and excellent overall display impact\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Light evidence of period handling is consistent with an authentic Japanese promotional poster of this age, but there are no significant issues that materially detract from the design.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlease review the photographs—they shows the exact poster for sale.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eoriginal Japanese Shochiku CBS\/FOX Video promotional B2 from the mid-to-late 1980s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003enot a reproduction or a modern reprint\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt is approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e38–41 years old\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCertificate of Authenticity included.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Japan Poster Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57189971526010,"sku":null,"price":300.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0424\/8859\/4591\/files\/wall-shelf-with-ornaments-2026-08-21T082454.270.jpg?v=1787268349","url":"https:\/\/japanposter.co.uk\/products\/the-idiot-%e7%99%bd%e7%97%b4-original-japanese-movie-poster-1978-re-release-b2-size-51-73-cm-o698-copy","provider":"Japan Poster Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}