Designing for Tokyo 1964

Tokyo 1964: competition, city and broadcasting

Tokyo hosted the eighteenth Summer Olympic Games from 10 to 24 October 1964, with some competitions held in other prefectures. The event combined international sport with preparations in transport, architecture, visual design and broadcasting.

Kenzo Tange: public buildings and urban plans

Kenzo Tange (1913–2005) was a Japanese architect and urban planner. Working with architects, engineers and other specialists, he designed public buildings and urban plans, including Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park and the Yoyogi gymnasia.

Yusaku Kamekura: posters, photography and design institutions

Yusaku Kamekura (1915–1997) was a graphic designer whose work included posters, corporate symbols and magazine editing. He also helped establish design organisations. The Tokyo 1964 Olympic emblem and posters were one part of this wider career.

Graphic design in Japan: type, images and communication

Graphic design organizes visual information through type, images, colour and layout. Japanese examples range from department-store publicity and exhibition announcements to event identities and digital media, with different solutions for different communication tasks.

Japanese type design: coordinating different scripts

Japanese type design coordinates kanji, hiragana, katakana, punctuation and required Latin characters into a usable visual system. It involves both individual strokes and relationships of size, weight and space. A font implementation makes that designed collection available for composition.

Judo: throws, groundwork and learning with a partner

Kanō Jigorō: judo, education and the Olympics

Kanō Jigorō (1860–1938) founded Kodokan judo and worked extensively in teacher education and sports administration. His projects linked physical training, personal development and contribution to society, while bringing Japan into the modern Olympic movement.

Station life: meeting, shopping and local services

A Japanese railway station serves train travel, but may also support shops, meeting places and everyday services. A major city terminal and a small local station do this in different ways. The ticket gates, concourses and services determine how people use each station.