Vintage Japanese Signboard - 1960s Showa Era (25D-466-3)

Vintage Japanese Kanban Signboard, Showa Era (SKU 25D-466-3)

Showa-era enamel advertising sign for agricultural fertilizer, with bold calligraphy on vivid yellow ground

This tall vintage Japanese kanban is an original enamel signboard promoting a “sokuhiso” (促肥素) fertilizer additive. Set against a striking yellow background, the design features a bright red geometric company crest and powerful black kanji advertising補助肥料 (supplementary fertilizer), framed by vertical text detailing its licensed sales and manufacturer. The lively contrast and hand-brushed style capture the dynamic visual language of mid-Showa rural advertising.

Likely once mounted outside a countryside farm supply shop or cooperative, the piece shows authentic age with scattered enamel chips, rusting at the corners, and patina to the metal back, all consistent with decades of outdoor use. Today it makes a characterful wall display for interiors, pairing well with other Showa-era signage, mingei objects, or industrial decor while preserving a tangible fragment of Japan’s postwar agricultural history.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: Showa period, mid-20th century
• Material: Enamel-painted steel
• Use: Outdoor shop signboard (kanban) advertising fertilizer
• Features: Vivid yellow ground with red company crest, bold black kanji and furigana, vertical text layout, original enamel surface with age-related chipping and rust, classic Showa-era advertising design
• Dimensions: 8"W x 21 1/2"H
• Condition: Vintage condition with visible wear, enamel losses and rusting, stable and display-ready

A distinctive Showa advertising kanban that adds instant color, history, and Japanese character to any space.

We use professional studio lighting to highlight the natural character of the wood. As a result, the tone may appear slightly warmer than under natural daylight.

All vintage and antique items are sold as-is. Each piece may exhibit signs of age, including scratches, wear, or minor imperfections. These are not considered defects but natural evidence of the item’s authenticity and age.