Very Rare DIRTY HARRY Chirashi

Very Rare DIRTY HARRY Chirashi

Japanese flyers are most commonly called Chirashi (チラシ), a term used for promotional leaflets and mini-posters that are often distributed in cinemas and other venues to advertise movies, products, or events. While "chirashi" can also refer to sushi, the context of "flyer" is indicated by the Japanese word for movie flyers, eiga chirashi (映画チラシ).

Inside the Cult World of Japan’s Mini Movie Flyers:

In the dim glow of a Japanese movie theater lobby, there’s a humble art form waiting by the ticket booth. It’s not on the screen. It’s stacked on a metal rack, maybe clipped behind a glass case. No flashing lights. No booming trailer. Just a flyer — about the size of a paperback book — with gorgeous, custom artwork printed on glossy paper.

They’re called chirashi, and for movie collectors, they’re a quietly obsessive treasure trove of cinematic ephemera. Part advertising, part miniature masterpiece, chirashi have become one of Japan’s most beloved — and affordable — forms of movie memorabilia.

In the most literal sense, chirashi (チラシ) just means “flyer.” But in the movie world, chirashi are Japan’s uniquely compact movie posters, typically printed in B5 size (roughly 7” x 10”), and only available from theatre’s while a film is actively showing. That limited-time-only nature is what makes them collectible — and increasingly rare.

Unlike oversized one-sheets or rolled wall posters, chirashi are designed to be taken home in your tote bag. They’re often double-sided or bi-fold (like a tiny program), printed on surprisingly high-quality paper, and made to feel more like a keepsake than a throwaway ad.

What is very special about this original Dirty Harry chirashi is its double size, roughly 14” x 10”. It contains some great artistic design and is fully printed on the inside. Prices are increasing on chirashi mini posters – but I w2as even stunned when I spotted this one, currently on sale on Ebay for a ball busting US $119.99 or approximately £89.03 (if that softens the blow). Now I like these little keepsakes – but I don’t think I will ever be splashing out that sort of cash for the pleasure of owning one of these.

Memorabilia collecting is becoming an expensive sport…