Noriyoshi Ohrai - Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back - (1980) – Japanese B2 Poster with Cinema Snipe

Japanese cinema poster featuring Noriyoshi Ohrai’s celebrated artwork for The Empire Strikes Back, accompanied by an attached local cinema advertising strip.

Ohrai’s painted composition brings together the principal characters, Cloud City, spacecraft and the battle of Hoth beneath the looming silhouette of Darth Vader. The bold Japanese lettering completes this distinctive interpretation of the film.

A particularly appealing feature is the attached advertising snipe for the Orion-za cinemas in Shizuoka and Shimizu. It announces simultaneous screenings beginning on Saturday 12 July and displays advance-ticket prices of 1,200, 1,000 and 600 yen. The date is consistent with the film’s 1980 Japanese release campaign, although the year is not printed on the strip itself.

Preserved together, the poster and cinema strip offer an interesting record of the film’s local promotion in Japan.

DETAILS

• Film: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
• Director: Irvin Kershner
• Artwork: Noriyoshi Ohrai
• Country: Japan
• Release design: 1980
• Format: Japanese B2 with attached cinema advertising strip
• Overall dimensions: approximately 51.5 × 91 cm
• Printed on paper, not linen-backed
• Artist’s signature printed within the artwork

CONDITION

Previously folded, with visible vertical and horizontal fold lines and whitening from ink wear along the folds. Wear is more pronounced at the central fold intersection. Additional handling creases, edge wear and some wrinkling are visible, particularly towards the lower left area.

The advertising strip remains attached and also shows folding and handling wear. Colours remain strong, with the composition retaining considerable visual impact.

Please examine all photographs, including the close-ups and reverse, as they form part of the condition description.

SHIPPING

Carefully packed with protective rigid outer packaging.
Tracked shipping.