Cover Image Guidelines for Titles (Japan)
Contents
These rules explain Japan-specific requirements for selecting a main cover image for Japan titles.
All general cover rules (official-only, integrity, orientation, scope, rejection cases, placeholders) are defined in the Global Cover Image Guidelines and apply here by default.
Horizontal Main Posters Are Common in Japan (Rotation Required)
In Japan, especially for TV dramas and broadcast titles, the official main promotional visual is often released as a horizontal poster.
These posters commonly:
Are text-heavy
List multiple cast members
Include broadcast details and credits
Were designed primarily for:
TV listings
Press use
Print or landscape layouts
Important rule
If the official main promotional poster is horizontal, it must be rotated to vertical format before submission.
Rotation is mandatory and must follow the global orientation rules.
Do not replace the official horizontal main poster with a different vertical image simply because it “fits better.”
Key principle
Orientation does not determine correctness. The official main promotional visual always takes priority.
Vertical Versions of the Same Main Visual (When Allowed)
In some cases, Japanese broadcasters, distributors, or official websites display the same main promotional visual in a vertical format, typically through:
Mobile or tablet website layouts
Responsive design versions of the same poster
Official promotional pages that adapt orientation without changing content
Approved usage
A vertical version may be used only when:
It is clearly the same main promotional visual
The composition, layout, text, and design are unchanged
The vertical version was officially displayed, not user-edited or reconstructed
Not allowed
Cropped or rebuilt vertical versions
Rearranged layouts
“Cleaned” or redesigned adaptations
Vertical images that are different posters or secondary visuals
Key principle
Vertical format is acceptable only when it represents the same official main promotional visual, not a substitute.
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