Approved / Preferred Examples for Titles (Japan)
Contents
These examples highlight Japan–specific cases where correct main cover choices are often misunderstood.
All general approval rules apply as described in the Global Approved / Preferred Examples section.
Home Media Covers as Primary Visuals
Approved/preferred examples include:
Official Japanese DVD or Blu-ray covers used as the main cover only when:
No original broadcast poster, theatrical poster, or key visual survives
No officially released promotional poster can be verified
Home media covers that:
Were commercially released or rented in Japan
Represent a single title, not a compilation
Are period-appropriate to the title’s original release era
Japan-specific context
For many older Japanese dramas and films, especially pre-2000 titles, home media packaging is often the only surviving official visual record.
Key principle
When no original promotional artwork survives, official Japanese home media covers are treated as valid primary visuals, not as secondary or inferior substitutes.
Archival Promotional Materials from Auctions & Private Collections
Approved/preferred examples include:
Scans or photographs of authentic original-era promotional materials, such as:
Posters
Flyers
Pamphlets
Press sheets
Materials discovered via:
Auctions (e.g. Yahoo! Auctions Japan)
Private collectors
Archival blogs or preservation projects
Important clarification
The hosting platform does not determine validity
What matters is that the material itself is authentic, official, and period-accurate
Japan-specific context
Many Japanese promotional materials were never digitized by broadcasters or production committees and survive only through physical preservation.
Key principle
Authenticity and historical accuracy take priority over:
Image resolution
Source platform
Modern presentation standards
Production Committee Intent Overriding Platform Branding
Approved/preferred examples include:
Posters or key visuals that reflect the original promotional intent of:
The broadcaster
The distributor
The production committee
Earlier official visuals that:
Defined the title’s public identity at release
Continue to be referenced in official or archival materials
Not overridden by:
Later streaming platform redesigns
Platform-exclusive cover swaps
Algorithm-selected or UI-optimized images
Japan-specific context
Japanese titles are frequently licensed to platforms after their original release. Platform presentation does not supersede production committee intent.
Key principle
When a conflict exists, production committee–approved promotional identity takes precedence over platform branding.
Conditional Acceptance of Packaging Artwork When No Poster Survives
Approved/preferred examples include:
Packaging artwork used as a main cover only when:
No original promotional poster or key visual survives
The packaging represents a single title
The design reflects the original release identity
Not approved:
Box-set covers representing multiple titles
Compilation artwork
Anniversary, remaster, or later reissue designs that replace original identity
Japan-specific context
In some cases, packaging artwork is the only remaining official visual tied to a title’s original release cycle.
Key principle
Packaging artwork is acceptable only as a preservation fallback, not as a stylistic upgrade or replacement.
Closing Note
Approved main cover images for Japan titles are selected based on:
Authenticity
Production committee intent
Historical accuracy
Correct release-era identity
When original promotional materials no longer survive, archival preservation takes priority over format, resolution, or modern aesthetics.
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