“The Pornographers” (「エロ事師たち」より 人類学入門), Original Japanese Movie Poster 1966, B2 Size (c. 51.5 × 72.8 cm) H81

An original Japanese B2 poster for Shōhei Imamura’s The Pornographers, released by Nikkatsu on 12 March 1966. This dark Osaka comedy was the first feature made by the director’s independent company, Imamura Productions. Its Japanese title offers a wry description of the film as An Introduction to Anthropology.

In Excellent condition for its age. The red title panel, yellow-green lettering and warm-tinted portrait retain strong colour and contrast. The poster will display beautifully framed.

Film background

Adapted from Akiyuki Nosaka’s novel, the film stars Shōichi Ozawa as Subu, a former Osaka salaryman who makes illicit 8mm films and considers his work a public service. His earnings support his widowed landlady and lover, Haru (Sumiko Sakamoto), and her two children. Haru believes her late husband still keeps an eye on the household in the form of a pet carp.

Imamura often films the family through windows and doorways, drawing the audience into the same act of looking that earns Subu his living. Kinema Junpō ranked the film second among the Japanese films of 1966.

Poster design

Two rows of sprocket holes run down the sheet, framing the design as an enlarged strip of film. The upper frame carries the Japanese title in yellow-green against red, with Nosaka’s credit above and Imamura’s name in white below. The next frame isolates a woman’s upturned face against deep shadow.

At the foot of the poster, a man aims four 8mm cameras directly at the viewer. The rig comes from the film’s opening sequence, where running the cameras side by side gives the filmmakers four reels to sell from a single take. The green Nikkatsu emblem appears at lower right. Across the black band beneath the portrait, the red publicity text reads:

「みんなに感謝されながらパクラレる運命の人・エロ事師たち！その哀歓を通して現代日本に鋭いメスを入れる衝撃の異色喜劇大作！！」
“The pornographers! Everyone thanks them, yet they’re destined to get nabbed. Through their joys and sorrows, this startling, offbeat comedy takes a scalpel to modern Japan!”

Condition

Excellent overall. Please review the photographs of the front and reverse for the full condition.

An original vintage Japanese theatrical poster from the film’s first release in 1966.
Over 60 years old.
Certificate of Authenticity included.

Certificate of Authenticity included.