This is an original Japanese printed in 1970 for the first release of Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo.
The design of the poster is one of the best for the film with artwork unique. Yojimbo is in a super cool samurai pose that is sure to be a bossy addition to any space!
This almost 5′ tall STB poster features fantastic artwork. The tatekan STB format had much lower print numbers compared to regular Japanese B2s. They are very rare, especially for more popular film titles, and are highly sought after by collectors today.
It is the 20th of a series of films featuring the blind swordsman Zatoichi. The main character is based on a fictional character, a blind masseur and swordmaster. He was created by novelist Kan Shimozawa and set during the late Edo period (1830s and 1840s).
In this film, actor Toshiro Mifune plays a similar character to Sanjuro, the rōnin (masterless samurai) in Akira Kurosawa's famous film Yojimbo (1961). Although Mifune is clearly not playing the same man (his name here is Daisaku Sasa, and his personality and background differ in many key respects), the film's title and some of its content connect him to the character, the Ronin with No Name, and the idea of the two iconic jidaigeki characters confronting each other (Machibuse, made in the same year, also stars Mifune in a role similar to that of Yojimbo).
The Japanese STB Tatekan (2-panel) poster has an nearly life size image of Toshihiro Mifune looking very badass - it is ultra rare with only a few selling over the past few years.
This poster is in excellent condition for it`s age. Although this poster has been stored folded, the fold lines can be dramatically reduced very easily or framing. linenbacking the poster would totally illuminate the folds. This poster will display fantastically once framed. Please refer to the imagery as this is the exact poster that is for sale.
It is 51 years old!
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
STB 20x57" (51x145cm)