Japanese Movie Posters

Japan is one of the few countries today with a refreshingly unique movie poster style. Globalization and the digital age have all but killed the country-specific styles of the past, leaving film fans with dry, westernized posters made for mass production — Japanese posters have been able to retain their local aesthetic.

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Despite the fact that Japanese posters often seem to defy every design rule, they exhibit a distinctive visual sensibility and rhythm. Among the characteristics of Japanese posters are vertical typography, distinctive title designs and clusters of text, miniature elements, photo collages, and small details that often interact with each other in a playful manner.

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'Chirashi', which are mini-posters/ flyers used in Japanese cinemas to advertise movies, are another unique aspect of poster art in Japan. The fact that they are only available during a film's theatrical run makes them collectors' items – valued by their rarity and age.