"Tokyo Story (東京物語)", Original Japanese Movie Poster 1972, Re-Release, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) N194

This is an original Japanese B2 poster printed in 1972 for the re-release of Tokyo Story (東京物語), Yasujirō Ozu’s most celebrated masterpiece. Japanese posters for Ozu’s films are exceptionally collectible, especially for titles regarded as cornerstones of world cinema.

Film background
First released in 1953, Tokyo Story (Tokyo Monogatari) is widely considered Ozu’s greatest work and one of the finest films ever made. The story follows an elderly couple who travel from the countryside to Tokyo to visit their grown children, only to be met with indifference and neglect. A meditation on generational conflict, postwar modernization, and the quiet sorrows of family life, the film has become a touchstone of Japanese cinema. Critics and filmmakers worldwide—including Roger Ebert, Paul Schrader, and directors such as Wim Wenders and Hou Hsiao-hsien—have praised it as one of the greatest films of all time. In the 2012 Sight & Sound critics’ poll, it was ranked the third greatest film ever made.

Poster design
The 1972 Japanese re-release B2 poster presents a simple yet poignant design that reflects Ozu’s understated aesthetic. Featuring stills of the elderly parents (Chishū Ryū and Chieko Higashiyama) and their family members, the poster emphasizes the generational themes at the heart of the film. The Japanese title 「東京物語」 is displayed prominently in bold calligraphic style, anchoring the design with elegance and gravitas. This minimal, thoughtful composition mirrors Ozu’s restrained cinematic style, allowing the film’s emotional resonance to take center stage.

This poster is in very good / excellent condition (please refer to imagery, both front and back, of the exact poster for sale).

It is over 50 years old.

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.