Chinese and Kanji in Japanese:
Japanese includes katakana, hiragana and kanji.
“kanji, (Japanese: “Chinese character”) in the Japanese writing system, ideograms (or characters) adapted from Chinese characters. Kanji constitute one of the two systems used to write the Japanese language, the other being the two indigenous kana syllabaries (hiragana and katakana).
Ancient Japan had no writing system for its spoken language until kanji were imported from China in about the 8th century CE. With the development of the kana syllabaries, kanji came to be employed for writing nouns, verb roots, adjectives, and other important words. Nouns often consist of compound characters: two or more kanji written together. The Japanese affixes for verb tenses, prepositions, and other grammatical markers, which do not exist in Chinese, were then indicated by kana (typically hiragana). The pronunciation of kanji symbols may be indicated as well by hiragana script.” (“Kanji | Definition, Rules, & Facts | Britannica”)
The Use of Kanji in Poster Design:
Japanese designers will use kanji as the main element in posters, more like turning kanji into a symbol or graphic than conveying information.
Since kanji are composed of many strokes, some Japanese designers change a few strokes and combine them with other graphic elements. Or break up the characters and use only part of them. Usually, the stroke is associated with the use of kanji.
“Brush strokes are yet another commonly recurring motif seen in Japanese design. This motif is largely in part tied to the traditional practises of Japanese calligraphy, also known as an art form called ‘Shodou’.
In Shodou art, the brush strokes are often messier, streaky, and cruder, as the art form dictates that no corrections to each stroke should be made, instead each line should simply flow into the next.” (“Graphic Design from around the World: Japanese Design.”)
84 Chikyu Poetry Festival
Fumihiko Enokido, 1984
Ryumin/ New Typeface Promotion
Ikko Tanaka, 1986
Typography
Yukihisa Takakita, 1979
I use the kanji of the flower as the background and use one font that is different from all other text messages. The color is a light blue so that it won’t interfere with the reading of other information. The size of the flower’s kanji is large enough to grab the reader’s attention easily. It echoes with the photo of the flower in the left corner of the poster.
Gradients and Geometric Shapes:
“Another trend you might observe in Japanese graphic design is a large use of gradients. Subtle colours fading and bleeding into one another is a very commonly used graphic element, often used for backgrounds to bring life and color to designs.” (“Graphic Design from around the World: Japanese Design.”)
Represented by Koichi Sato stands for a group of Japanese artists who like to use gradients in the background. Their poetic way of designing has given the reader a sense of stillness. Geometric shapes are also an important element for Japanese designers, a big reason is that the circle, the most classic geometric shape, is on the Japanese flag.
Color in Japan
Yusaku Kamekura, 1964
The Fall of Sujaku Family
Koichi Sato, 1987
Totto Noren Kai
Koichi Sato, 1989
Rikyu
Koichi Sato, 1988
Deep and Poetic
Koichi Sato
I used AI and PS to draw the flowers with clear edges. Just like my installation, you can see the different layers through the semi-transparent petals.
Reference and Sources:
“Kanji | Definition, Rules, & Facts | Britannica.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2022, www.britannica.com/topic/kanji.
Kirei-Posters from Japan, 1978-1993/Japanese English (English, Japanese and Japanese Edition) Hardcover – March 1, 1994, by Catherine Burer
Stribley, Mary. “Graphic Design from around the World: Japanese Design.” Learn, Canva, 16 Aug. 2021, www.canva.com/learn/japanese-design/.