“The Living Daylights” / 「007 リビング・デイライツ」, Original First Release Japanese Movie Poster 1987, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) G297
This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed in 1987 for the first Japanese release of The Living Daylights / 「007 リビング・デイライツ」, the fifteenth official James Bond film and Timothy Dalton’s debut as 007.
Issued for the franchise’s 25th anniversary, this poster presents the film as a major new chapter in the Bond series, introducing a harder, more serious, and more grounded interpretation of Ian Fleming’s famous secret agent.
Film background
Directed by John Glen, The Living Daylights follows James Bond as he assists the defection of a senior Soviet officer, only to uncover a larger conspiracy involving arms dealing, intelligence deception, and diamond smuggling. The action moves from Bratislava and Vienna to Tangier and Afghanistan, combining Cold War espionage with large-scale adventure.
The film stars Timothy Dalton as James Bond, alongside Maryam d’Abo, Jeroen Krabbé, Joe Don Baker, John Rhys-Davies, and Art Malik. It was widely seen as a successful reinvention of the franchise, with Dalton bringing a sharper and more serious tone to the role. The theme song was performed by a-ha, adding a distinctive late-1980s pop identity to the campaign.
Poster design
The Japanese poster is a dense, action-packed Bond montage. At the centre, Timothy Dalton appears in a white circular gun-barrel-style frame, wearing a tuxedo and aiming his pistol directly outward.
Surrounding him are key action elements from the film: Bond’s Aston Martin V8 Vantage firing missiles across the lower left, explosions, aircraft, mountain landscapes, military vehicles, cavalry charges, and Maryam d’Abo reclining in a white dress while holding a rifle. A dramatic red gun-barrel silhouette sweeps across the upper composition, giving the design strong movement and franchise identity.
The top headline reads:
「25周年記念＝シリーズ最新第15弾！」
“25th Anniversary — the latest 15th film in the series!”
Beneath it:
「危険を生きるニュー・ジェームズ・ボンド」
“The new James Bond who lives through danger.”
The lower section is anchored by the huge red-and-white title 「007 リビング・デイライツ」, with 「ニュー・ジェームズ・ボンド ティモシー・ダルトン」 printed above it — “New James Bond: Timothy Dalton.”
The overall design is bold, colourful, and highly cinematic, capturing the scale and energy of late-1980s Bond advertising in Japan.
Release note
This poster was printed for the film’s original 1987 Japanese theatrical release campaign.
It is an original period Japanese cinema poster, not a later reproduction or commercial reprint.
Condition
Excellent+ condition.
Please review the photograph carefully, as it shows the exact poster for sale.
This is an original 1987 Japanese theatrical poster.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
It is now over 35 years old.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
