Born in 1974 in Tokyo. Dropped out of Musashino Art University, Department of Sculpture. Established Bluemark Inc. in 2000 and his private studio in 2011. He actively engaged in the fields of art, architecture, fashion and crafts. Examples of his work include: art direction for mina perhonen (1995-2004) and Sally Scott (2002-2021); visual identity signage planning for the Aomori Museum of Art (2006) and Omiyamae Gymnasium (2014); magazine and book design for “Shun ga Marugoto” (2007-12), “Soen” (2013) and “Nikkei Kairou” (2015-16); packaging design for Kamenoko Sponge; and more. He also ran the book label “BOOK PEAK” and published art books. His exhibitions include “PLAY” and “Weight and Lightness” (both at Aomori Museum of Art), “Creation Is Free. Production Needs Fee.” (Creation Gallery G8) and “VOCA 2013” (The Ueno Royal Museum).

Creative director. Born in 1965 in Nihonbashi, Tokyo. After working for SUN-AD Company Limited, he established butterfly stroke inc. Examples of his work include branding and creative direction for Yoshinoya, Fields, Ultraman and Kirin Lager Beer; advertising and graphic design for Coca-Cola and Utada Hikaru; designing logo marks for Yomiuri Giants and Hobonichi Itoi Newspaper; character design for Copet and Kami-Robo; and more.Major awards he received include the Tokyo ADC Award, Tokyo TDC Award, JAGDA New Designer Award, ACC Award, YouTube Ads Leaderboard, and more.

2012 Ryosuke Uehara and Yoshie Watanabe start KIGI, helping companies as art directors with their brand or product design, while actively working for the product brand D-BROS and the fashion brand CACUMA as designers. An original brand KIKOF is launched through collaboration with artisans based around Lake Biwa. They also create their own works in wide-ranging fields and freely express them with their outside-the-box mentality and style, exploring new ways of creation. 2015 KIGI opens a gallery and original shop OUR FAVORITE SHOP in Shirokane, Tokyo. 2016 The KIGI in Clematis no Oka exhibition is held at Vangi Sculpture Garden Museum. 2017 The large-scale exhibition KIGI WORK & FREE is held at Utsunomiya Museum of Art. 2018 KIGI participates in Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2018 Exhibition: The Hojoki Shiki to run YOIGOMA The Standing Sake Bar.

Web designer. Born in 1975 in Mie. Graduated from Doshisha University, Faculty of Engineering and International Academy of Media Arts and Sciences. Established Semitransparent Design in 2003. His activities are centered on web design, but not limited to any one area, ranging from website planning and production to graphic design, and exhibitions of his works at museums and galleries in Japan and abroad. Examples of his work include: planning for Semitra Exhibition “tFont/fTime” (Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media) and “Illuminating Graphics 1 & 2” (Creation Gallery G8); exhibiting his works at “Semitransparent Design: Boring/Bored” (Ginza Graphic Gallery) and ICC OPEN SPACE 2008 & 2015; and more.Winner of the Yusaku Kamekura Award 2021.

Art director and graphic designer. Born in Yamaguchi prefecture in 1961. Graduated from Yamaguchi University, and after working at DRAFT, established KIGI with Ryosuke Uehara in 2012. In addition to graphic design, she is also involved in product and fashion design: Product planning for D-BROS, the fashion brand CACUMA with Hobo Nihon, and KIKOF with artisans in Shiga. She has been running a gallery and store calls "OUR FAVOURITE SHOP" in Shirokane, Tokyo since 2015, and held a large scale solo exhibition "KIGI WORK & FREE" at Utsunomiya Museum of Art in 2017 and exhibited "Standing Sake BAR, Drunken Dokugaku" at the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial 2018. Awards Watanabe received are the Tokyo ADC Grand Prix (2015), Tokyo ADC Member Award (2011, 2017, 2019), and the 19th Yusaku Kamekura Award (2017). Books she drawn are "BROOCH", "UN DEUX", "Journey" and "Shinjuno" which were published by Little More.

Born in Kanagawa of Japan, 1978. Graduated from the department of Science of Design at Musashino Art University in Tokyo, and started working independently in 2003. Expanded projects seeking sensation and perception of words and letters, through graphic design, exhibitions, and workshops. His some main projects include a mobile of typography “Typogravity” topicalizing gravity and graphic series “Ridge Line” reconstructing mountain photography and trekking maps by Takashi Homma. “TypogRAPy” is sound project with Shuta Hasunuma and Jun Kamoda. Awarded JAGDA New Designer Award and TOKYO TDC Award.

Art director, president of HAKUHODO DESIGN, and professor at Tama Art University. After graduating from Tama Art University, he joined Hakuhodo and in 2003 established HAKUHODO DESIGN, a design-based branding company. He has been supporting management reforms for various companies and governments, as well as leading branding, visual identity (VI) design, and project design for businesses, products, and services. Since 2012, he has been a professor at Tama Art University's Department of Integrated Design, which emphasizes cross-disciplinary design. He has also served as the Creative Director for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's "Tokyo Brand" since 2015 and chaired the awards committee for the Good Design Award from 2015 to 2017. His expertise has further been sought as a member of the Study Group on Competitiveness and Design launched by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Japan Patent Office. His notable works include Help Mark (a tag indicating that a person in need of assistance), Suntory Iyemon, TOKYOTOKYO, Mori Building, and Uheim. He has received numerous domestic and international awards, including the Creator of the Year, the ADC Grand Prix, and the Mainichi Design Award. His publications include "Hakuhodo Design Branding" and "Korekara no Design Keiei (Future Design Management).

Graphic artist. Born in 1992. Graduated from Musashino Art University, Department of Visual Communication Design. Solo exhibitions in Japan and abroad, including London, Korea, and Japan. His client work includes record jackets, character design, and artwork for apparel and other graphic arts.

Creative director and art director. Graduated from Tama Art University, Faculty of Design. After working at DRAFT he established KIGI with Yoshie Watanabe in 2012. In addition to art direction, graphic design, web design, space direction and product design for companies and brands, he also participates in various art projects. He has launched the ceramic brand KIKOF with artisans in Shiga. Ryosuke Uehara is always trying to find a new way of creation with free imaginations and expressions. He has been running the gallery and store "OUR FAVOURITE SHOP" in Shirokane, Tokyo since 2015, and held a large-scale solo exhibition "KIGI WORK & FREE" at the Utsunomiya Museum of Art in 2017. He also exhibited "Standing Sake BAR, Drunken Dokugaku" at Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2018 . Awards Uehara received are the Tokyo ADC Grand Prix (2015), Tokyo ADC Member Award (2017, 2019), and the 11th Yusaku Kamekura Award (2009).

Graphic designer. Born in 1980 in Tokyo. Graduated from Kuwasawa Design School. Director of Allright Inc., which consists of the graphic design division Allright Graphics and the letterpress printing division Allright Printing. In addition to his design and letterpress work, he has held many exhibitions of his personal artwork. In recent years, an increasing number of projects and exhibitions take place overseas.He received the JAGDA New Designer Award in 2011, the Tokyo ADC Award in 2019, and the TDC Award in 2020.

Born in Hyogo Prefecture in 1965, he graduated from the University of Tsukuba in 1987 and is the president of GRAPH. In 2004, many of his works were selected for permanent preservation in the Bibliothèque Nationale de France as “the best books of recent years in printing and design”. In 2008, as a graphic artist, he participated in the Frieze Art Fair, one of the three major art festivals in the world. 2011 Selected as one of 15 artists for the Contemporary Japanese Graphic Design Exhibition at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. 2024 Awarded the 26th Yusaku Kamekura Award for “KAMIZU”. He is a member of AGI (Association Graphique Internationale) and has received numerous awards including the ADC Award, TDC Award, JAGDA New Designer Award, etc. He has served as a juror for the NY ADC Award, D&AD Award, etc. in Japan and abroad.

Graphic designer. Born in Osaka in 1929,he left the Department of Sculpture at Tokyo University of the Arts in 1951 .He participated in the founding of the Nippon Design Center, Inc. in 1960 alongside Ikko Tanaka and others from Osaka. Rising to the position of president in 1975, he currently serves as the company's chief advisor, while also holding the role of special advisor to JAGDA. His design portfolio includes iconic logos, corporate identities, and posters for prominent clients such as the Sapporo Winter Olympics, Okinawa International Ocean Exposition, Ibaraki and Niigata prefectures, JA, Asahi Breweries, and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. In the late 1980s, he embarked on the "LIFE" series, featuring motifs of plants and animals, and in 2003, he expanded his artistic expression into copperplate engraving. His work has been recognized with numerous domestic and international awards, including the Tokyo ADC Grand Prix, the Yusaku Kamekura Design Award, the Mainichi Design Award, the Mainichi Art Award, the MEXT Art Encouragement Prize, the Medal with Purple Ribbon, the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, Himeji City Culture and Arts Award, the Gold Prize at the International Poster Biennale in Warsaw, and the Grand Prize at the International Biennial of Graphic Design Brno. His artworks are held in the collections of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, the Museum of Modern Art, Toyama, the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and over 20 other museums worldwide.

Born in Tokyo in 1933. Nakajo graduated from faculty of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts in 1956. Became freelance in 1960 and established Nakajo Design Office in 1961. He kept doing art direction and design for Shiseido's corporate culture magazine Hanatsubaki, The Ginza and Tactics Design; CI planning for Matsuya Ginza, Wacoal Spiral, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, and Hosomi Museum; Logotype and package design for Shiseido Parlor, etc. Received the Gold Award from TDC, the Highest Award from ADC, Yusaku Kamekura Award, Mainichi Design Award, Japan Advertising Award, Yamana Award, and many others. Also mentionable awards are the Medal with Purple Ribbon and the Order of the Rising Sun.

Photo by Shingo Wakagi

Art director and graphic designer. Born in 1975 in Tachikawa City, Tokyo. He established the graphic design firm "6D" in 2007. The firm's main focus is on the visual identity of companies and products, along with a wide range of other projects such as logo and package design, and signage for spacial design. Major awards he received include D&AD, Cannes Lions Design Awards, One show Design Awards, Design for Asia Awards, ADC Award, JAGDA Award, Japan Package Design Awards, Sign Design Awards, and many others in Japan and abroad.

Art director and graphic designer. Born in 1980 in Tokyo. After graduating from Joshibi University of Art and Design, she joined Onuki Design. After working for Space Country, she became independent in 2007, actively working in a wide range of fields including advertising, CD cover arts, bookbinding, and video. Major works include advertisements for LUMINE, LOWRYS FARM, and ettusais, CD cover arts for Chara, Kaela Kimura, and Gen Hoshino, UNIQLO x DISNEY collaboration, and art direction for a brand produced by Naomi Watanabe. Winner of the 2016 Tokyo ADC Award and the 2019 Mainichi Design Award.

Art director. Born 1949 in Sapporo. Start working 1973 at SUN AD.
His main work is Suntory Woolong Tea China Series, United Arrows, Toroya's advertising Production and Art direction, Suntory's CI, Roppongi shopping street neon sign, etc.
He is the author of "Catalog of Kaoru Kasai 1968" (ADP)

Graphic designer. Born in 1964 in Tokyo. Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts in 1988, and joined Light Publicity Co., Ltd. before started to work freelance in 2001. His works include advertisements for Kewpie Half and East Japan Railway; magazine design for “Ryuko Tsushin,” “here and there” and “Mayonaka”; art direction for Hermès events “Petit h Objects” and “Shape of Dreams - Hermès Bespoke Objects”; creating visual identity for Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Tokyo, Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art and POLA; book design for “Nouveau Petit Royal: Dictionnaire Japonais Français”; artwork for rock band Kururi; and more. He received the Mainichi Design Awards, Yusaku Kamekura Award, Tokyo ADC Award, Tokyo TDC Award Grand Prix, and more.

Born in 1986 in Shizuoka, Japan, he graduated from Musashino Art University in 2008 with a degree in Visual Communication Design. Joined Hakuhodo in 2009. He has been a member of SIX since 2014. Awards received include Tokyo ADC, JAGDA New Designer Award, D&AD, NY ADC, and ONE SHOW.

Graphic designer and art director. Born in 1947. Established “Beans” in 1978. He does art direction for advertising, music, publishing,TV etc. His style is strong in integrating photography and typography. Published “GRAPHIC WORKS 1981-2007", “GRAPHIC TALKING THE DRAGON”, “THE BURNING HEAVEN” (published by Little more) by Tsuguya Inoue. Received numerous prizes including Tokyo ADC Grand Prix, Tokyo TDC Grand Prix, Japan Advertising Award Yamana Award, Mainichi Design Award etc.

Born in Kanagawa in 1940. After studying at Kanagawa Prefectural Technical High School Design Department, Kuwasawa Design School and working at Keinosuke Sato Typography Research Institute and Light Publicity, he established Katsumi Asaba Design Office in 1975. Representative works include advertising design for Seibu Department Store, Suntory, Takeda Pharmaceutical and Misawa Home, and logos for ISSEY MIYAKE and HOMME PLISSE ISSEY MIYAKE. Received awards include the Tokyo TDC Award, Mainichi Design Award, Japan Academy Prize for Best Art, Tokyo ADC Award Grand Prix, Yusaku Kamekura Award, Medal with Purple Ribbon and the Order of the Rising Sun. Asaba is also contributing as chairman of Tokyo TDC, director of JAGDA, member of Tokyo ADC and AGI, 10th director of Kuwasawa Design School. At Tokyo Zokei University and Aomori University he is also a visiting professor. Besides, a six–tired table tennis player.

Graphic designer and art director. Born in 1978 in Tokyo. He joined Hakuhodo in 2006 after completing a postgraduate degree in design at The Tokyo University of The Arts, and is currently working at Hakuhodo Creative Vox. While working daily on advertising work, he launched "pages" in 2016 to broaden the new field of expression, and is actively engaged in a wide range of activities, including media development and product creation that combines new technologies and materials. He has received numerous awards, including the Tokyo ADC Award, JAGDA New Designer Award 2008, JAGDA Award, the TDC Award Runner-up Grand Prix, and overseas awards.

Graphic designer. Born in Kawasaki, Kanagawa. After graduating from Nihon University College of Art, he worked for Sony Music Entertainment before going freelance. Examples of his work include graphic design for the art unit Maywa Denki, PlayStation game software “I.Q” and “Katte ni Koukoku”(collaborative project with Masahiko Sato), Exhibition “Measuring - This much, That much, How much?” (21_21 DESIGN SIGHT), window display for Ginza Maison Hermès, and more. His publications include “Maywadenki no Koukoku Design” (co-authored with Nobumichi Tosa, NTT Publishing), “Dottoko Doubutsuen,” “Hakase no Hushigi na Pool,” “Tana no Ue Hikojo,” and “Yukida Yukida” (all from Fukuinkan Shoten), and “Santa no Ko” (MUJI Books), etc. He received the 20th Yusaku Kamekura Award, the 2014 BolognaRagazzi Award for Excellence, 2018 Mainichi Design Awards, and more.

A design duo formed in 1999 by Ryohei "Wabi" Kudo and Kazushi "Sabi" Nakanishi. They are active in a variety of fields ranging from advertising, graphic design, object design, video, music, interior design, and fashion. Awards received include the ADC Annual Awards Silver Prize, INTERNATIONAL POSTER TRIENNIAL IN TOYAMA 2006 Gold Prize, TAIPEI INTERNATIONAL POSTER FESTIVAL Bronze Prize, D&AD FACE TO WATCH 2009, JAGDA New Designer Award 2005, and the 1st Tokyo Midtown Award Runner-up Grand Prize. A member of "Dezain inc.”

Born in 1974 in Tokyo. Dropped out of Musashino Art University, Department of Sculpture. Established Bluemark Inc. in 2000 and his private studio in 2011. He actively engaged in the fields of art, architecture, fashion and crafts. Examples of his work include: art direction for mina perhonen (1995-2004) and Sally Scott (2002-2021); visual identity signage planning for the Aomori Museum of Art (2006) and Omiyamae Gymnasium (2014); magazine and book design for “Shun ga Marugoto” (2007-12), “Soen” (2013) and “Nikkei Kairou” (2015-16); packaging design for Kamenoko Sponge; and more. He also ran the book label “BOOK PEAK” and published art books. His exhibitions include “PLAY” and “Weight and Lightness” (both at Aomori Museum of Art), “Creation Is Free. Production Needs Fee.” (Creation Gallery G8) and “VOCA 2013” (The Ueno Royal Museum).

Born in Kanagawa in 1940. After studying at Kanagawa Prefectural Technical High School Design Department, Kuwasawa Design School and working at Keinosuke Sato Typography Research Institute and Light Publicity, he established Katsumi Asaba Design Office in 1975. Representative works include advertising design for Seibu Department Store, Suntory, Takeda Pharmaceutical and Misawa Home, and logos for ISSEY MIYAKE and HOMME PLISSE ISSEY MIYAKE. Received awards include the Tokyo TDC Award, Mainichi Design Award, Japan Academy Prize for Best Art, Tokyo ADC Award Grand Prix, Yusaku Kamekura Award, Medal with Purple Ribbon and the Order of the Rising Sun. Asaba is also contributing as chairman of Tokyo TDC, director of JAGDA, member of Tokyo ADC and AGI, 10th director of Kuwasawa Design School. At Tokyo Zokei University and Aomori University he is also a visiting professor. Besides, a six–tired table tennis player.

Graphic designer. Born in 1964 in Tokyo. Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts in 1988, and joined Light Publicity Co., Ltd. before started to work freelance in 2001. His works include advertisements for Kewpie Half and East Japan Railway; magazine design for “Ryuko Tsushin,” “here and there” and “Mayonaka”; art direction for Hermès events “Petit h Objects” and “Shape of Dreams - Hermès Bespoke Objects”; creating visual identity for Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Tokyo, Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art and POLA; book design for “Nouveau Petit Royal: Dictionnaire Japonais Français”; artwork for rock band Kururi; and more. He received the Mainichi Design Awards, Yusaku Kamekura Award, Tokyo ADC Award, Tokyo TDC Award Grand Prix, and more.

Born in Tokyo in 1933. Nakajo graduated from faculty of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts in 1956. Became freelance in 1960 and established Nakajo Design Office in 1961. He kept doing art direction and design for Shiseido's corporate culture magazine Hanatsubaki, The Ginza and Tactics Design; CI planning for Matsuya Ginza, Wacoal Spiral, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, and Hosomi Museum; Logotype and package design for Shiseido Parlor, etc. Received the Gold Award from TDC, the Highest Award from ADC, Yusaku Kamekura Award, Mainichi Design Award, Japan Advertising Award, Yamana Award, and many others. Also mentionable awards are the Medal with Purple Ribbon and the Order of the Rising Sun.

Photo by Shingo Wakagi

Creative director and art director. Graduated from Tama Art University, Faculty of Design. After working at DRAFT he established KIGI with Yoshie Watanabe in 2012. In addition to art direction, graphic design, web design, space direction and product design for companies and brands, he also participates in various art projects. He has launched the ceramic brand KIKOF with artisans in Shiga. Ryosuke Uehara is always trying to find a new way of creation with free imaginations and expressions. He has been running the gallery and store "OUR FAVOURITE SHOP" in Shirokane, Tokyo since 2015, and held a large-scale solo exhibition "KIGI WORK & FREE" at the Utsunomiya Museum of Art in 2017. He also exhibited "Standing Sake BAR, Drunken Dokugaku" at Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2018 . Awards Uehara received are the Tokyo ADC Grand Prix (2015), Tokyo ADC Member Award (2017, 2019), and the 11th Yusaku Kamekura Award (2009).

Art director and graphic designer. Born in Yamaguchi prefecture in 1961. Graduated from Yamaguchi University, and after working at DRAFT, established KIGI with Ryosuke Uehara in 2012. In addition to graphic design, she is also involved in product and fashion design: Product planning for D-BROS, the fashion brand CACUMA with Hobo Nihon, and KIKOF with artisans in Shiga. She has been running a gallery and store calls "OUR FAVOURITE SHOP" in Shirokane, Tokyo since 2015, and held a large scale solo exhibition "KIGI WORK & FREE" at Utsunomiya Museum of Art in 2017 and exhibited "Standing Sake BAR, Drunken Dokugaku" at the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial 2018. Awards Watanabe received are the Tokyo ADC Grand Prix (2015), Tokyo ADC Member Award (2011, 2017, 2019), and the 19th Yusaku Kamekura Award (2017). Books she drawn are "BROOCH", "UN DEUX", "Journey" and "Shinjuno" which were published by Little More.

Born in Kanagawa of Japan, 1978. Graduated from the department of Science of Design at Musashino Art University in Tokyo, and started working independently in 2003. Expanded projects seeking sensation and perception of words and letters, through graphic design, exhibitions, and workshops. His some main projects include a mobile of typography “Typogravity” topicalizing gravity and graphic series “Ridge Line” reconstructing mountain photography and trekking maps by Takashi Homma. “TypogRAPy” is sound project with Shuta Hasunuma and Jun Kamoda. Awarded JAGDA New Designer Award and TOKYO TDC Award.

Creative director. Born in 1965 in Nihonbashi, Tokyo. After working for SUN-AD Company Limited, he established butterfly stroke inc. Examples of his work include branding and creative direction for Yoshinoya, Fields, Ultraman and Kirin Lager Beer; advertising and graphic design for Coca-Cola and Utada Hikaru; designing logo marks for Yomiuri Giants and Hobonichi Itoi Newspaper; character design for Copet and Kami-Robo; and more.Major awards he received include the Tokyo ADC Award, Tokyo TDC Award, JAGDA New Designer Award, ACC Award, YouTube Ads Leaderboard, and more.

Graphic designer and art director. Born in 1978 in Tokyo. He joined Hakuhodo in 2006 after completing a postgraduate degree in design at The Tokyo University of The Arts, and is currently working at Hakuhodo Creative Vox. While working daily on advertising work, he launched "pages" in 2016 to broaden the new field of expression, and is actively engaged in a wide range of activities, including media development and product creation that combines new technologies and materials. He has received numerous awards, including the Tokyo ADC Award, JAGDA New Designer Award 2008, JAGDA Award, the TDC Award Runner-up Grand Prix, and overseas awards.

Born in 1986 in Shizuoka, Japan, he graduated from Musashino Art University in 2008 with a degree in Visual Communication Design. Joined Hakuhodo in 2009. He has been a member of SIX since 2014. Awards received include Tokyo ADC, JAGDA New Designer Award, D&AD, NY ADC, and ONE SHOW.

Art director and graphic designer. Born in 1975 in Tachikawa City, Tokyo. He established the graphic design firm "6D" in 2007. The firm's main focus is on the visual identity of companies and products, along with a wide range of other projects such as logo and package design, and signage for spacial design. Major awards he received include D&AD, Cannes Lions Design Awards, One show Design Awards, Design for Asia Awards, ADC Award, JAGDA Award, Japan Package Design Awards, Sign Design Awards, and many others in Japan and abroad.

Graphic designer. Born in 1980 in Tokyo. Graduated from Kuwasawa Design School. Director of Allright Inc., which consists of the graphic design division Allright Graphics and the letterpress printing division Allright Printing. In addition to his design and letterpress work, he has held many exhibitions of his personal artwork. In recent years, an increasing number of projects and exhibitions take place overseas.He received the JAGDA New Designer Award in 2011, the Tokyo ADC Award in 2019, and the TDC Award in 2020.

Born in Hyogo Prefecture in 1965, he graduated from the University of Tsukuba in 1987 and is the president of GRAPH. In 2004, many of his works were selected for permanent preservation in the Bibliothèque Nationale de France as “the best books of recent years in printing and design”. In 2008, as a graphic artist, he participated in the Frieze Art Fair, one of the three major art festivals in the world. 2011 Selected as one of 15 artists for the Contemporary Japanese Graphic Design Exhibition at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. 2024 Awarded the 26th Yusaku Kamekura Award for “KAMIZU”. He is a member of AGI (Association Graphique Internationale) and has received numerous awards including the ADC Award, TDC Award, JAGDA New Designer Award, etc. He has served as a juror for the NY ADC Award, D&AD Award, etc. in Japan and abroad.

Art director, president of HAKUHODO DESIGN, and professor at Tama Art University. After graduating from Tama Art University, he joined Hakuhodo and in 2003 established HAKUHODO DESIGN, a design-based branding company. He has been supporting management reforms for various companies and governments, as well as leading branding, visual identity (VI) design, and project design for businesses, products, and services. Since 2012, he has been a professor at Tama Art University's Department of Integrated Design, which emphasizes cross-disciplinary design. He has also served as the Creative Director for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's "Tokyo Brand" since 2015 and chaired the awards committee for the Good Design Award from 2015 to 2017. His expertise has further been sought as a member of the Study Group on Competitiveness and Design launched by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Japan Patent Office. His notable works include Help Mark (a tag indicating that a person in need of assistance), Suntory Iyemon, TOKYOTOKYO, Mori Building, and Uheim. He has received numerous domestic and international awards, including the Creator of the Year, the ADC Grand Prix, and the Mainichi Design Award. His publications include "Hakuhodo Design Branding" and "Korekara no Design Keiei (Future Design Management).

2012 Ryosuke Uehara and Yoshie Watanabe start KIGI, helping companies as art directors with their brand or product design, while actively working for the product brand D-BROS and the fashion brand CACUMA as designers. An original brand KIKOF is launched through collaboration with artisans based around Lake Biwa. They also create their own works in wide-ranging fields and freely express them with their outside-the-box mentality and style, exploring new ways of creation. 2015 KIGI opens a gallery and original shop OUR FAVORITE SHOP in Shirokane, Tokyo. 2016 The KIGI in Clematis no Oka exhibition is held at Vangi Sculpture Garden Museum. 2017 The large-scale exhibition KIGI WORK & FREE is held at Utsunomiya Museum of Art. 2018 KIGI participates in Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2018 Exhibition: The Hojoki Shiki to run YOIGOMA The Standing Sake Bar.

Graphic designer. Born in Kawasaki, Kanagawa. After graduating from Nihon University College of Art, he worked for Sony Music Entertainment before going freelance. Examples of his work include graphic design for the art unit Maywa Denki, PlayStation game software “I.Q” and “Katte ni Koukoku”(collaborative project with Masahiko Sato), Exhibition “Measuring - This much, That much, How much?” (21_21 DESIGN SIGHT), window display for Ginza Maison Hermès, and more. His publications include “Maywadenki no Koukoku Design” (co-authored with Nobumichi Tosa, NTT Publishing), “Dottoko Doubutsuen,” “Hakase no Hushigi na Pool,” “Tana no Ue Hikojo,” and “Yukida Yukida” (all from Fukuinkan Shoten), and “Santa no Ko” (MUJI Books), etc. He received the 20th Yusaku Kamekura Award, the 2014 BolognaRagazzi Award for Excellence, 2018 Mainichi Design Awards, and more.

Graphic designer and art director. Born in 1947. Established “Beans” in 1978. He does art direction for advertising, music, publishing,TV etc. His style is strong in integrating photography and typography. Published “GRAPHIC WORKS 1981-2007", “GRAPHIC TALKING THE DRAGON”, “THE BURNING HEAVEN” (published by Little more) by Tsuguya Inoue. Received numerous prizes including Tokyo ADC Grand Prix, Tokyo TDC Grand Prix, Japan Advertising Award Yamana Award, Mainichi Design Award etc.

Art director and graphic designer. Born in 1980 in Tokyo. After graduating from Joshibi University of Art and Design, she joined Onuki Design. After working for Space Country, she became independent in 2007, actively working in a wide range of fields including advertising, CD cover arts, bookbinding, and video. Major works include advertisements for LUMINE, LOWRYS FARM, and ettusais, CD cover arts for Chara, Kaela Kimura, and Gen Hoshino, UNIQLO x DISNEY collaboration, and art direction for a brand produced by Naomi Watanabe. Winner of the 2016 Tokyo ADC Award and the 2019 Mainichi Design Award.

Art director. Born 1949 in Sapporo. Start working 1973 at SUN AD.
His main work is Suntory Woolong Tea China Series, United Arrows, Toroya's advertising Production and Art direction, Suntory's CI, Roppongi shopping street neon sign, etc.
He is the author of "Catalog of Kaoru Kasai 1968" (ADP)

Graphic designer. Born in Osaka in 1929,he left the Department of Sculpture at Tokyo University of the Arts in 1951 .He participated in the founding of the Nippon Design Center, Inc. in 1960 alongside Ikko Tanaka and others from Osaka. Rising to the position of president in 1975, he currently serves as the company's chief advisor, while also holding the role of special advisor to JAGDA. His design portfolio includes iconic logos, corporate identities, and posters for prominent clients such as the Sapporo Winter Olympics, Okinawa International Ocean Exposition, Ibaraki and Niigata prefectures, JA, Asahi Breweries, and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. In the late 1980s, he embarked on the "LIFE" series, featuring motifs of plants and animals, and in 2003, he expanded his artistic expression into copperplate engraving. His work has been recognized with numerous domestic and international awards, including the Tokyo ADC Grand Prix, the Yusaku Kamekura Design Award, the Mainichi Design Award, the Mainichi Art Award, the MEXT Art Encouragement Prize, the Medal with Purple Ribbon, the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, Himeji City Culture and Arts Award, the Gold Prize at the International Poster Biennale in Warsaw, and the Grand Prize at the International Biennial of Graphic Design Brno. His artworks are held in the collections of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, the Museum of Modern Art, Toyama, the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and over 20 other museums worldwide.

Graphic artist. Born in 1992. Graduated from Musashino Art University, Department of Visual Communication Design. Solo exhibitions in Japan and abroad, including London, Korea, and Japan. His client work includes record jackets, character design, and artwork for apparel and other graphic arts.

Web designer. Born in 1975 in Mie. Graduated from Doshisha University, Faculty of Engineering and International Academy of Media Arts and Sciences. Established Semitransparent Design in 2003. His activities are centered on web design, but not limited to any one area, ranging from website planning and production to graphic design, and exhibitions of his works at museums and galleries in Japan and abroad. Examples of his work include: planning for Semitra Exhibition “tFont/fTime” (Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media) and “Illuminating Graphics 1 & 2” (Creation Gallery G8); exhibiting his works at “Semitransparent Design: Boring/Bored” (Ginza Graphic Gallery) and ICC OPEN SPACE 2008 & 2015; and more.Winner of the Yusaku Kamekura Award 2021.

A design duo formed in 1999 by Ryohei "Wabi" Kudo and Kazushi "Sabi" Nakanishi. They are active in a variety of fields ranging from advertising, graphic design, object design, video, music, interior design, and fashion. Awards received include the ADC Annual Awards Silver Prize, INTERNATIONAL POSTER TRIENNIAL IN TOYAMA 2006 Gold Prize, TAIPEI INTERNATIONAL POSTER FESTIVAL Bronze Prize, D&AD FACE TO WATCH 2009, JAGDA New Designer Award 2005, and the 1st Tokyo Midtown Award Runner-up Grand Prize. A member of "Dezain inc.”

Born in 1974 in Tokyo. Dropped out of Musashino Art University, Department of Sculpture. Established Bluemark Inc. in 2000 and his private studio in 2011. He actively engaged in the fields of art, architecture, fashion and crafts. Examples of his work include: art direction for mina perhonen (1995-2004) and Sally Scott (2002-2021); visual identity signage planning for the Aomori Museum of Art (2006) and Omiyamae Gymnasium (2014); magazine and book design for “Shun ga Marugoto” (2007-12), “Soen” (2013) and “Nikkei Kairou” (2015-16); packaging design for Kamenoko Sponge; and more. He also ran the book label “BOOK PEAK” and published art books. His exhibitions include “PLAY” and “Weight and Lightness” (both at Aomori Museum of Art), “Creation Is Free. Production Needs Fee.” (Creation Gallery G8) and “VOCA 2013” (The Ueno Royal Museum).

Art director. Born 1949 in Sapporo. Start working 1973 at SUN AD.
His main work is Suntory Woolong Tea China Series, United Arrows, Toroya's advertising Production and Art direction, Suntory's CI, Roppongi shopping street neon sign, etc.
He is the author of "Catalog of Kaoru Kasai 1968" (ADP)

Art director, president of HAKUHODO DESIGN, and professor at Tama Art University. After graduating from Tama Art University, he joined Hakuhodo and in 2003 established HAKUHODO DESIGN, a design-based branding company. He has been supporting management reforms for various companies and governments, as well as leading branding, visual identity (VI) design, and project design for businesses, products, and services. Since 2012, he has been a professor at Tama Art University's Department of Integrated Design, which emphasizes cross-disciplinary design. He has also served as the Creative Director for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's "Tokyo Brand" since 2015 and chaired the awards committee for the Good Design Award from 2015 to 2017. His expertise has further been sought as a member of the Study Group on Competitiveness and Design launched by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Japan Patent Office. His notable works include Help Mark (a tag indicating that a person in need of assistance), Suntory Iyemon, TOKYOTOKYO, Mori Building, and Uheim. He has received numerous domestic and international awards, including the Creator of the Year, the ADC Grand Prix, and the Mainichi Design Award. His publications include "Hakuhodo Design Branding" and "Korekara no Design Keiei (Future Design Management).

Graphic designer and art director. Born in 1978 in Tokyo. He joined Hakuhodo in 2006 after completing a postgraduate degree in design at The Tokyo University of The Arts, and is currently working at Hakuhodo Creative Vox. While working daily on advertising work, he launched "pages" in 2016 to broaden the new field of expression, and is actively engaged in a wide range of activities, including media development and product creation that combines new technologies and materials. He has received numerous awards, including the Tokyo ADC Award, JAGDA New Designer Award 2008, JAGDA Award, the TDC Award Runner-up Grand Prix, and overseas awards.

Born in Tokyo in 1933. Nakajo graduated from faculty of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts in 1956. Became freelance in 1960 and established Nakajo Design Office in 1961. He kept doing art direction and design for Shiseido's corporate culture magazine Hanatsubaki, The Ginza and Tactics Design; CI planning for Matsuya Ginza, Wacoal Spiral, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, and Hosomi Museum; Logotype and package design for Shiseido Parlor, etc. Received the Gold Award from TDC, the Highest Award from ADC, Yusaku Kamekura Award, Mainichi Design Award, Japan Advertising Award, Yamana Award, and many others. Also mentionable awards are the Medal with Purple Ribbon and the Order of the Rising Sun.

Photo by Shingo Wakagi

Web designer. Born in 1975 in Mie. Graduated from Doshisha University, Faculty of Engineering and International Academy of Media Arts and Sciences. Established Semitransparent Design in 2003. His activities are centered on web design, but not limited to any one area, ranging from website planning and production to graphic design, and exhibitions of his works at museums and galleries in Japan and abroad. Examples of his work include: planning for Semitra Exhibition “tFont/fTime” (Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media) and “Illuminating Graphics 1 & 2” (Creation Gallery G8); exhibiting his works at “Semitransparent Design: Boring/Bored” (Ginza Graphic Gallery) and ICC OPEN SPACE 2008 & 2015; and more.Winner of the Yusaku Kamekura Award 2021.

Graphic designer and art director. Born in 1947. Established “Beans” in 1978. He does art direction for advertising, music, publishing,TV etc. His style is strong in integrating photography and typography. Published “GRAPHIC WORKS 1981-2007", “GRAPHIC TALKING THE DRAGON”, “THE BURNING HEAVEN” (published by Little more) by Tsuguya Inoue. Received numerous prizes including Tokyo ADC Grand Prix, Tokyo TDC Grand Prix, Japan Advertising Award Yamana Award, Mainichi Design Award etc.

Graphic designer. Born in 1980 in Tokyo. Graduated from Kuwasawa Design School. Director of Allright Inc., which consists of the graphic design division Allright Graphics and the letterpress printing division Allright Printing. In addition to his design and letterpress work, he has held many exhibitions of his personal artwork. In recent years, an increasing number of projects and exhibitions take place overseas.He received the JAGDA New Designer Award in 2011, the Tokyo ADC Award in 2019, and the TDC Award in 2020.

Born in Kanagawa of Japan, 1978. Graduated from the department of Science of Design at Musashino Art University in Tokyo, and started working independently in 2003. Expanded projects seeking sensation and perception of words and letters, through graphic design, exhibitions, and workshops. His some main projects include a mobile of typography “Typogravity” topicalizing gravity and graphic series “Ridge Line” reconstructing mountain photography and trekking maps by Takashi Homma. “TypogRAPy” is sound project with Shuta Hasunuma and Jun Kamoda. Awarded JAGDA New Designer Award and TOKYO TDC Award.

Born in Kanagawa in 1940. After studying at Kanagawa Prefectural Technical High School Design Department, Kuwasawa Design School and working at Keinosuke Sato Typography Research Institute and Light Publicity, he established Katsumi Asaba Design Office in 1975. Representative works include advertising design for Seibu Department Store, Suntory, Takeda Pharmaceutical and Misawa Home, and logos for ISSEY MIYAKE and HOMME PLISSE ISSEY MIYAKE. Received awards include the Tokyo TDC Award, Mainichi Design Award, Japan Academy Prize for Best Art, Tokyo ADC Award Grand Prix, Yusaku Kamekura Award, Medal with Purple Ribbon and the Order of the Rising Sun. Asaba is also contributing as chairman of Tokyo TDC, director of JAGDA, member of Tokyo ADC and AGI, 10th director of Kuwasawa Design School. At Tokyo Zokei University and Aomori University he is also a visiting professor. Besides, a six–tired table tennis player.

Graphic designer. Born in Osaka in 1929,he left the Department of Sculpture at Tokyo University of the Arts in 1951 .He participated in the founding of the Nippon Design Center, Inc. in 1960 alongside Ikko Tanaka and others from Osaka. Rising to the position of president in 1975, he currently serves as the company's chief advisor, while also holding the role of special advisor to JAGDA. His design portfolio includes iconic logos, corporate identities, and posters for prominent clients such as the Sapporo Winter Olympics, Okinawa International Ocean Exposition, Ibaraki and Niigata prefectures, JA, Asahi Breweries, and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. In the late 1980s, he embarked on the "LIFE" series, featuring motifs of plants and animals, and in 2003, he expanded his artistic expression into copperplate engraving. His work has been recognized with numerous domestic and international awards, including the Tokyo ADC Grand Prix, the Yusaku Kamekura Design Award, the Mainichi Design Award, the Mainichi Art Award, the MEXT Art Encouragement Prize, the Medal with Purple Ribbon, the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, Himeji City Culture and Arts Award, the Gold Prize at the International Poster Biennale in Warsaw, and the Grand Prize at the International Biennial of Graphic Design Brno. His artworks are held in the collections of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, the Museum of Modern Art, Toyama, the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and over 20 other museums worldwide.

2012 Ryosuke Uehara and Yoshie Watanabe start KIGI, helping companies as art directors with their brand or product design, while actively working for the product brand D-BROS and the fashion brand CACUMA as designers. An original brand KIKOF is launched through collaboration with artisans based around Lake Biwa. They also create their own works in wide-ranging fields and freely express them with their outside-the-box mentality and style, exploring new ways of creation. 2015 KIGI opens a gallery and original shop OUR FAVORITE SHOP in Shirokane, Tokyo. 2016 The KIGI in Clematis no Oka exhibition is held at Vangi Sculpture Garden Museum. 2017 The large-scale exhibition KIGI WORK & FREE is held at Utsunomiya Museum of Art. 2018 KIGI participates in Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2018 Exhibition: The Hojoki Shiki to run YOIGOMA The Standing Sake Bar.

Born in 1986 in Shizuoka, Japan, he graduated from Musashino Art University in 2008 with a degree in Visual Communication Design. Joined Hakuhodo in 2009. He has been a member of SIX since 2014. Awards received include Tokyo ADC, JAGDA New Designer Award, D&AD, NY ADC, and ONE SHOW.

Creative director and art director. Graduated from Tama Art University, Faculty of Design. After working at DRAFT he established KIGI with Yoshie Watanabe in 2012. In addition to art direction, graphic design, web design, space direction and product design for companies and brands, he also participates in various art projects. He has launched the ceramic brand KIKOF with artisans in Shiga. Ryosuke Uehara is always trying to find a new way of creation with free imaginations and expressions. He has been running the gallery and store "OUR FAVOURITE SHOP" in Shirokane, Tokyo since 2015, and held a large-scale solo exhibition "KIGI WORK & FREE" at the Utsunomiya Museum of Art in 2017. He also exhibited "Standing Sake BAR, Drunken Dokugaku" at Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2018 . Awards Uehara received are the Tokyo ADC Grand Prix (2015), Tokyo ADC Member Award (2017, 2019), and the 11th Yusaku Kamekura Award (2009).

A design duo formed in 1999 by Ryohei "Wabi" Kudo and Kazushi "Sabi" Nakanishi. They are active in a variety of fields ranging from advertising, graphic design, object design, video, music, interior design, and fashion. Awards received include the ADC Annual Awards Silver Prize, INTERNATIONAL POSTER TRIENNIAL IN TOYAMA 2006 Gold Prize, TAIPEI INTERNATIONAL POSTER FESTIVAL Bronze Prize, D&AD FACE TO WATCH 2009, JAGDA New Designer Award 2005, and the 1st Tokyo Midtown Award Runner-up Grand Prize. A member of "Dezain inc.”

Art director and graphic designer. Born in 1980 in Tokyo. After graduating from Joshibi University of Art and Design, she joined Onuki Design. After working for Space Country, she became independent in 2007, actively working in a wide range of fields including advertising, CD cover arts, bookbinding, and video. Major works include advertisements for LUMINE, LOWRYS FARM, and ettusais, CD cover arts for Chara, Kaela Kimura, and Gen Hoshino, UNIQLO x DISNEY collaboration, and art direction for a brand produced by Naomi Watanabe. Winner of the 2016 Tokyo ADC Award and the 2019 Mainichi Design Award.

Born in Hyogo Prefecture in 1965, he graduated from the University of Tsukuba in 1987 and is the president of GRAPH. In 2004, many of his works were selected for permanent preservation in the Bibliothèque Nationale de France as “the best books of recent years in printing and design”. In 2008, as a graphic artist, he participated in the Frieze Art Fair, one of the three major art festivals in the world. 2011 Selected as one of 15 artists for the Contemporary Japanese Graphic Design Exhibition at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. 2024 Awarded the 26th Yusaku Kamekura Award for “KAMIZU”. He is a member of AGI (Association Graphique Internationale) and has received numerous awards including the ADC Award, TDC Award, JAGDA New Designer Award, etc. He has served as a juror for the NY ADC Award, D&AD Award, etc. in Japan and abroad.

Creative director. Born in 1965 in Nihonbashi, Tokyo. After working for SUN-AD Company Limited, he established butterfly stroke inc. Examples of his work include branding and creative direction for Yoshinoya, Fields, Ultraman and Kirin Lager Beer; advertising and graphic design for Coca-Cola and Utada Hikaru; designing logo marks for Yomiuri Giants and Hobonichi Itoi Newspaper; character design for Copet and Kami-Robo; and more.Major awards he received include the Tokyo ADC Award, Tokyo TDC Award, JAGDA New Designer Award, ACC Award, YouTube Ads Leaderboard, and more.

Graphic designer. Born in 1964 in Tokyo. Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts in 1988, and joined Light Publicity Co., Ltd. before started to work freelance in 2001. His works include advertisements for Kewpie Half and East Japan Railway; magazine design for “Ryuko Tsushin,” “here and there” and “Mayonaka”; art direction for Hermès events “Petit h Objects” and “Shape of Dreams - Hermès Bespoke Objects”; creating visual identity for Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Tokyo, Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art and POLA; book design for “Nouveau Petit Royal: Dictionnaire Japonais Français”; artwork for rock band Kururi; and more. He received the Mainichi Design Awards, Yusaku Kamekura Award, Tokyo ADC Award, Tokyo TDC Award Grand Prix, and more.

Graphic artist. Born in 1992. Graduated from Musashino Art University, Department of Visual Communication Design. Solo exhibitions in Japan and abroad, including London, Korea, and Japan. His client work includes record jackets, character design, and artwork for apparel and other graphic arts.

Graphic designer. Born in Kawasaki, Kanagawa. After graduating from Nihon University College of Art, he worked for Sony Music Entertainment before going freelance. Examples of his work include graphic design for the art unit Maywa Denki, PlayStation game software “I.Q” and “Katte ni Koukoku”(collaborative project with Masahiko Sato), Exhibition “Measuring - This much, That much, How much?” (21_21 DESIGN SIGHT), window display for Ginza Maison Hermès, and more. His publications include “Maywadenki no Koukoku Design” (co-authored with Nobumichi Tosa, NTT Publishing), “Dottoko Doubutsuen,” “Hakase no Hushigi na Pool,” “Tana no Ue Hikojo,” and “Yukida Yukida” (all from Fukuinkan Shoten), and “Santa no Ko” (MUJI Books), etc. He received the 20th Yusaku Kamekura Award, the 2014 BolognaRagazzi Award for Excellence, 2018 Mainichi Design Awards, and more.

Art director and graphic designer. Born in 1975 in Tachikawa City, Tokyo. He established the graphic design firm "6D" in 2007. The firm's main focus is on the visual identity of companies and products, along with a wide range of other projects such as logo and package design, and signage for spacial design. Major awards he received include D&AD, Cannes Lions Design Awards, One show Design Awards, Design for Asia Awards, ADC Award, JAGDA Award, Japan Package Design Awards, Sign Design Awards, and many others in Japan and abroad.

Art director and graphic designer. Born in Yamaguchi prefecture in 1961. Graduated from Yamaguchi University, and after working at DRAFT, established KIGI with Ryosuke Uehara in 2012. In addition to graphic design, she is also involved in product and fashion design: Product planning for D-BROS, the fashion brand CACUMA with Hobo Nihon, and KIKOF with artisans in Shiga. She has been running a gallery and store calls "OUR FAVOURITE SHOP" in Shirokane, Tokyo since 2015, and held a large scale solo exhibition "KIGI WORK & FREE" at Utsunomiya Museum of Art in 2017 and exhibited "Standing Sake BAR, Drunken Dokugaku" at the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial 2018. Awards Watanabe received are the Tokyo ADC Grand Prix (2015), Tokyo ADC Member Award (2011, 2017, 2019), and the 19th Yusaku Kamekura Award (2017). Books she drawn are "BROOCH", "UN DEUX", "Journey" and "Shinjuno" which were published by Little More.

Born in 1974 in Tokyo. Dropped out of Musashino Art University, Department of Sculpture. Established Bluemark Inc. in 2000 and his private studio in 2011. He actively engaged in the fields of art, architecture, fashion and crafts. Examples of his work include: art direction for mina perhonen (1995-2004) and Sally Scott (2002-2021); visual identity signage planning for the Aomori Museum of Art (2006) and Omiyamae Gymnasium (2014); magazine and book design for “Shun ga Marugoto” (2007-12), “Soen” (2013) and “Nikkei Kairou” (2015-16); packaging design for Kamenoko Sponge; and more. He also ran the book label “BOOK PEAK” and published art books. His exhibitions include “PLAY” and “Weight and Lightness” (both at Aomori Museum of Art), “Creation Is Free. Production Needs Fee.” (Creation Gallery G8) and “VOCA 2013” (The Ueno Royal Museum).

Born in Hyogo Prefecture in 1965, he graduated from the University of Tsukuba in 1987 and is the president of GRAPH. In 2004, many of his works were selected for permanent preservation in the Bibliothèque Nationale de France as “the best books of recent years in printing and design”. In 2008, as a graphic artist, he participated in the Frieze Art Fair, one of the three major art festivals in the world. 2011 Selected as one of 15 artists for the Contemporary Japanese Graphic Design Exhibition at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. 2024 Awarded the 26th Yusaku Kamekura Award for “KAMIZU”. He is a member of AGI (Association Graphique Internationale) and has received numerous awards including the ADC Award, TDC Award, JAGDA New Designer Award, etc. He has served as a juror for the NY ADC Award, D&AD Award, etc. in Japan and abroad.

Born in Kanagawa in 1940. After studying at Kanagawa Prefectural Technical High School Design Department, Kuwasawa Design School and working at Keinosuke Sato Typography Research Institute and Light Publicity, he established Katsumi Asaba Design Office in 1975. Representative works include advertising design for Seibu Department Store, Suntory, Takeda Pharmaceutical and Misawa Home, and logos for ISSEY MIYAKE and HOMME PLISSE ISSEY MIYAKE. Received awards include the Tokyo TDC Award, Mainichi Design Award, Japan Academy Prize for Best Art, Tokyo ADC Award Grand Prix, Yusaku Kamekura Award, Medal with Purple Ribbon and the Order of the Rising Sun. Asaba is also contributing as chairman of Tokyo TDC, director of JAGDA, member of Tokyo ADC and AGI, 10th director of Kuwasawa Design School. At Tokyo Zokei University and Aomori University he is also a visiting professor. Besides, a six–tired table tennis player.

Art director, president of HAKUHODO DESIGN, and professor at Tama Art University. After graduating from Tama Art University, he joined Hakuhodo and in 2003 established HAKUHODO DESIGN, a design-based branding company. He has been supporting management reforms for various companies and governments, as well as leading branding, visual identity (VI) design, and project design for businesses, products, and services. Since 2012, he has been a professor at Tama Art University's Department of Integrated Design, which emphasizes cross-disciplinary design. He has also served as the Creative Director for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's "Tokyo Brand" since 2015 and chaired the awards committee for the Good Design Award from 2015 to 2017. His expertise has further been sought as a member of the Study Group on Competitiveness and Design launched by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Japan Patent Office. His notable works include Help Mark (a tag indicating that a person in need of assistance), Suntory Iyemon, TOKYOTOKYO, Mori Building, and Uheim. He has received numerous domestic and international awards, including the Creator of the Year, the ADC Grand Prix, and the Mainichi Design Award. His publications include "Hakuhodo Design Branding" and "Korekara no Design Keiei (Future Design Management).

Graphic designer. Born in 1964 in Tokyo. Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts in 1988, and joined Light Publicity Co., Ltd. before started to work freelance in 2001. His works include advertisements for Kewpie Half and East Japan Railway; magazine design for “Ryuko Tsushin,” “here and there” and “Mayonaka”; art direction for Hermès events “Petit h Objects” and “Shape of Dreams - Hermès Bespoke Objects”; creating visual identity for Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Tokyo, Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art and POLA; book design for “Nouveau Petit Royal: Dictionnaire Japonais Français”; artwork for rock band Kururi; and more. He received the Mainichi Design Awards, Yusaku Kamekura Award, Tokyo ADC Award, Tokyo TDC Award Grand Prix, and more.

2012 Ryosuke Uehara and Yoshie Watanabe start KIGI, helping companies as art directors with their brand or product design, while actively working for the product brand D-BROS and the fashion brand CACUMA as designers. An original brand KIKOF is launched through collaboration with artisans based around Lake Biwa. They also create their own works in wide-ranging fields and freely express them with their outside-the-box mentality and style, exploring new ways of creation. 2015 KIGI opens a gallery and original shop OUR FAVORITE SHOP in Shirokane, Tokyo. 2016 The KIGI in Clematis no Oka exhibition is held at Vangi Sculpture Garden Museum. 2017 The large-scale exhibition KIGI WORK & FREE is held at Utsunomiya Museum of Art. 2018 KIGI participates in Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2018 Exhibition: The Hojoki Shiki to run YOIGOMA The Standing Sake Bar.

Born in Tokyo in 1933. Nakajo graduated from faculty of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts in 1956. Became freelance in 1960 and established Nakajo Design Office in 1961. He kept doing art direction and design for Shiseido's corporate culture magazine Hanatsubaki, The Ginza and Tactics Design; CI planning for Matsuya Ginza, Wacoal Spiral, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, and Hosomi Museum; Logotype and package design for Shiseido Parlor, etc. Received the Gold Award from TDC, the Highest Award from ADC, Yusaku Kamekura Award, Mainichi Design Award, Japan Advertising Award, Yamana Award, and many others. Also mentionable awards are the Medal with Purple Ribbon and the Order of the Rising Sun.

Photo by Shingo Wakagi

Graphic designer. Born in Kawasaki, Kanagawa. After graduating from Nihon University College of Art, he worked for Sony Music Entertainment before going freelance. Examples of his work include graphic design for the art unit Maywa Denki, PlayStation game software “I.Q” and “Katte ni Koukoku”(collaborative project with Masahiko Sato), Exhibition “Measuring - This much, That much, How much?” (21_21 DESIGN SIGHT), window display for Ginza Maison Hermès, and more. His publications include “Maywadenki no Koukoku Design” (co-authored with Nobumichi Tosa, NTT Publishing), “Dottoko Doubutsuen,” “Hakase no Hushigi na Pool,” “Tana no Ue Hikojo,” and “Yukida Yukida” (all from Fukuinkan Shoten), and “Santa no Ko” (MUJI Books), etc. He received the 20th Yusaku Kamekura Award, the 2014 BolognaRagazzi Award for Excellence, 2018 Mainichi Design Awards, and more.

Creative director and art director. Graduated from Tama Art University, Faculty of Design. After working at DRAFT he established KIGI with Yoshie Watanabe in 2012. In addition to art direction, graphic design, web design, space direction and product design for companies and brands, he also participates in various art projects. He has launched the ceramic brand KIKOF with artisans in Shiga. Ryosuke Uehara is always trying to find a new way of creation with free imaginations and expressions. He has been running the gallery and store "OUR FAVOURITE SHOP" in Shirokane, Tokyo since 2015, and held a large-scale solo exhibition "KIGI WORK & FREE" at the Utsunomiya Museum of Art in 2017. He also exhibited "Standing Sake BAR, Drunken Dokugaku" at Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2018 . Awards Uehara received are the Tokyo ADC Grand Prix (2015), Tokyo ADC Member Award (2017, 2019), and the 11th Yusaku Kamekura Award (2009).

Graphic designer and art director. Born in 1947. Established “Beans” in 1978. He does art direction for advertising, music, publishing,TV etc. His style is strong in integrating photography and typography. Published “GRAPHIC WORKS 1981-2007", “GRAPHIC TALKING THE DRAGON”, “THE BURNING HEAVEN” (published by Little more) by Tsuguya Inoue. Received numerous prizes including Tokyo ADC Grand Prix, Tokyo TDC Grand Prix, Japan Advertising Award Yamana Award, Mainichi Design Award etc.

Art director and graphic designer. Born in Yamaguchi prefecture in 1961. Graduated from Yamaguchi University, and after working at DRAFT, established KIGI with Ryosuke Uehara in 2012. In addition to graphic design, she is also involved in product and fashion design: Product planning for D-BROS, the fashion brand CACUMA with Hobo Nihon, and KIKOF with artisans in Shiga. She has been running a gallery and store calls "OUR FAVOURITE SHOP" in Shirokane, Tokyo since 2015, and held a large scale solo exhibition "KIGI WORK & FREE" at Utsunomiya Museum of Art in 2017 and exhibited "Standing Sake BAR, Drunken Dokugaku" at the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial 2018. Awards Watanabe received are the Tokyo ADC Grand Prix (2015), Tokyo ADC Member Award (2011, 2017, 2019), and the 19th Yusaku Kamekura Award (2017). Books she drawn are "BROOCH", "UN DEUX", "Journey" and "Shinjuno" which were published by Little More.

Art director and graphic designer. Born in 1980 in Tokyo. After graduating from Joshibi University of Art and Design, she joined Onuki Design. After working for Space Country, she became independent in 2007, actively working in a wide range of fields including advertising, CD cover arts, bookbinding, and video. Major works include advertisements for LUMINE, LOWRYS FARM, and ettusais, CD cover arts for Chara, Kaela Kimura, and Gen Hoshino, UNIQLO x DISNEY collaboration, and art direction for a brand produced by Naomi Watanabe. Winner of the 2016 Tokyo ADC Award and the 2019 Mainichi Design Award.

Born in Kanagawa of Japan, 1978. Graduated from the department of Science of Design at Musashino Art University in Tokyo, and started working independently in 2003. Expanded projects seeking sensation and perception of words and letters, through graphic design, exhibitions, and workshops. His some main projects include a mobile of typography “Typogravity” topicalizing gravity and graphic series “Ridge Line” reconstructing mountain photography and trekking maps by Takashi Homma. “TypogRAPy” is sound project with Shuta Hasunuma and Jun Kamoda. Awarded JAGDA New Designer Award and TOKYO TDC Award.

Art director. Born 1949 in Sapporo. Start working 1973 at SUN AD.
His main work is Suntory Woolong Tea China Series, United Arrows, Toroya's advertising Production and Art direction, Suntory's CI, Roppongi shopping street neon sign, etc.
He is the author of "Catalog of Kaoru Kasai 1968" (ADP)

Creative director. Born in 1965 in Nihonbashi, Tokyo. After working for SUN-AD Company Limited, he established butterfly stroke inc. Examples of his work include branding and creative direction for Yoshinoya, Fields, Ultraman and Kirin Lager Beer; advertising and graphic design for Coca-Cola and Utada Hikaru; designing logo marks for Yomiuri Giants and Hobonichi Itoi Newspaper; character design for Copet and Kami-Robo; and more.Major awards he received include the Tokyo ADC Award, Tokyo TDC Award, JAGDA New Designer Award, ACC Award, YouTube Ads Leaderboard, and more.

Graphic designer. Born in Osaka in 1929,he left the Department of Sculpture at Tokyo University of the Arts in 1951 .He participated in the founding of the Nippon Design Center, Inc. in 1960 alongside Ikko Tanaka and others from Osaka. Rising to the position of president in 1975, he currently serves as the company's chief advisor, while also holding the role of special advisor to JAGDA. His design portfolio includes iconic logos, corporate identities, and posters for prominent clients such as the Sapporo Winter Olympics, Okinawa International Ocean Exposition, Ibaraki and Niigata prefectures, JA, Asahi Breweries, and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. In the late 1980s, he embarked on the "LIFE" series, featuring motifs of plants and animals, and in 2003, he expanded his artistic expression into copperplate engraving. His work has been recognized with numerous domestic and international awards, including the Tokyo ADC Grand Prix, the Yusaku Kamekura Design Award, the Mainichi Design Award, the Mainichi Art Award, the MEXT Art Encouragement Prize, the Medal with Purple Ribbon, the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, Himeji City Culture and Arts Award, the Gold Prize at the International Poster Biennale in Warsaw, and the Grand Prize at the International Biennial of Graphic Design Brno. His artworks are held in the collections of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, the Museum of Modern Art, Toyama, the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and over 20 other museums worldwide.

Graphic designer and art director. Born in 1978 in Tokyo. He joined Hakuhodo in 2006 after completing a postgraduate degree in design at The Tokyo University of The Arts, and is currently working at Hakuhodo Creative Vox. While working daily on advertising work, he launched "pages" in 2016 to broaden the new field of expression, and is actively engaged in a wide range of activities, including media development and product creation that combines new technologies and materials. He has received numerous awards, including the Tokyo ADC Award, JAGDA New Designer Award 2008, JAGDA Award, the TDC Award Runner-up Grand Prix, and overseas awards.

Graphic artist. Born in 1992. Graduated from Musashino Art University, Department of Visual Communication Design. Solo exhibitions in Japan and abroad, including London, Korea, and Japan. His client work includes record jackets, character design, and artwork for apparel and other graphic arts.

Born in 1986 in Shizuoka, Japan, he graduated from Musashino Art University in 2008 with a degree in Visual Communication Design. Joined Hakuhodo in 2009. He has been a member of SIX since 2014. Awards received include Tokyo ADC, JAGDA New Designer Award, D&AD, NY ADC, and ONE SHOW.

Web designer. Born in 1975 in Mie. Graduated from Doshisha University, Faculty of Engineering and International Academy of Media Arts and Sciences. Established Semitransparent Design in 2003. His activities are centered on web design, but not limited to any one area, ranging from website planning and production to graphic design, and exhibitions of his works at museums and galleries in Japan and abroad. Examples of his work include: planning for Semitra Exhibition “tFont/fTime” (Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media) and “Illuminating Graphics 1 & 2” (Creation Gallery G8); exhibiting his works at “Semitransparent Design: Boring/Bored” (Ginza Graphic Gallery) and ICC OPEN SPACE 2008 & 2015; and more.Winner of the Yusaku Kamekura Award 2021.

Art director and graphic designer. Born in 1975 in Tachikawa City, Tokyo. He established the graphic design firm "6D" in 2007. The firm's main focus is on the visual identity of companies and products, along with a wide range of other projects such as logo and package design, and signage for spacial design. Major awards he received include D&AD, Cannes Lions Design Awards, One show Design Awards, Design for Asia Awards, ADC Award, JAGDA Award, Japan Package Design Awards, Sign Design Awards, and many others in Japan and abroad.

A design duo formed in 1999 by Ryohei "Wabi" Kudo and Kazushi "Sabi" Nakanishi. They are active in a variety of fields ranging from advertising, graphic design, object design, video, music, interior design, and fashion. Awards received include the ADC Annual Awards Silver Prize, INTERNATIONAL POSTER TRIENNIAL IN TOYAMA 2006 Gold Prize, TAIPEI INTERNATIONAL POSTER FESTIVAL Bronze Prize, D&AD FACE TO WATCH 2009, JAGDA New Designer Award 2005, and the 1st Tokyo Midtown Award Runner-up Grand Prize. A member of "Dezain inc.”

Graphic designer. Born in 1980 in Tokyo. Graduated from Kuwasawa Design School. Director of Allright Inc., which consists of the graphic design division Allright Graphics and the letterpress printing division Allright Printing. In addition to his design and letterpress work, he has held many exhibitions of his personal artwork. In recent years, an increasing number of projects and exhibitions take place overseas.He received the JAGDA New Designer Award in 2011, the Tokyo ADC Award in 2019, and the TDC Award in 2020.