Comments on: A coffee meeting with Ian Lynam http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/archives/2008/05/31-shotype-235937 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:06:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Okano http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/archives/2008/05/31-shotype-235937#comment-1377 Okano Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:43:21 +0000 http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/?p=26#comment-1377 I think I could understand what you mean. I'll wait you send me email. I think I could understand what you mean. I’ll wait you send me email.

]]> By: Claudio Piccinini http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/archives/2008/05/31-shotype-235937#comment-1336 Claudio Piccinini Sun, 02 Nov 2008 10:14:35 +0000 http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/?p=26#comment-1336 I am absolutely sure Akira Kobayashi would draw a Kanji set (or the guiding glyphs for it) with complete mastery. As I recall, Akira started as a young designer precisely working on Japanese faces (there is an interview to Kobayashi in Ian's book "Parallel Strokes"). My "provocation" was just to see what the peculiarity of your ideographic system, and the sensibility you developed reading also "visually" (with Kanji) could bring to a Latin face (and vice-versa). I think the biggest 'trap' of designers like you and Kobayashi, could fall into could be the idea of rendering a "culturally authentic" and "prefect" Latin typeface, with the risk of suppressing all that you could bring of "Japanese" into it. But I will develop this thought more if I can, writing you an email. I am absolutely sure Akira Kobayashi would draw a Kanji set (or the guiding glyphs for it) with complete mastery. As I recall, Akira started as a young designer precisely working on Japanese faces (there is an interview to Kobayashi in Ian’s book “Parallel Strokes”).
My “provocation” was just to see what the peculiarity of your ideographic system, and the sensibility you developed reading also “visually” (with Kanji) could bring to a Latin face (and vice-versa).

I think the biggest ‘trap’ of designers like you and Kobayashi, could fall into could be the idea of rendering a “culturally authentic” and “prefect” Latin typeface, with the risk of suppressing all that you could bring of “Japanese” into it. But I will develop this thought more if I can, writing you an email.

]]> By: Okano http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/archives/2008/05/31-shotype-235937#comment-1328 Okano Sun, 02 Nov 2008 01:30:55 +0000 http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/?p=26#comment-1328 I totally agree with you. I know some of Latin counterpart of Japanese fonts were not so good, and I would like to improve this situation. I also make an effort to understand Latin letter forms learning Calligraphy and I've been considering how the form goes with Japanese letter forms. Some of Japanese type designers seem to get new inspiration from Latin fonts. I think Mr. Kobayashi must be able to draw Kanji part. I saw his drawing of Kanji when he worked for Jiyu-Kobo, which is one of famous type foundries in Japan and designed Hiragino-family that is bandled Mac OSX, and I think that is great one. Besides, he can draw Kanteiryu, which is Japanese traditional hand writing style for Rakugo, using a brush. I'll send you email later to communicate with you. I totally agree with you.
I know some of Latin counterpart of Japanese fonts were not so good, and I would like to improve this situation.
I also make an effort to understand Latin letter forms learning Calligraphy and I’ve been considering how the form goes with Japanese letter forms.
Some of Japanese type designers seem to get new inspiration from Latin fonts.

I think Mr. Kobayashi must be able to draw Kanji part. I saw his drawing of Kanji when he worked for Jiyu-Kobo, which is one of famous type foundries in Japan and designed Hiragino-family that is bandled Mac OSX, and I think that is great one. Besides, he can draw Kanteiryu, which is Japanese traditional hand writing style for Rakugo, using a brush.

I’ll send you email later to communicate with you.

]]> By: Claudio Piccinini http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/archives/2008/05/31-shotype-235937#comment-1306 Claudio Piccinini Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:15:57 +0000 http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/?p=26#comment-1306 Again, all thanks go to you. :) I'll ask Ian your email so I may submit you some other question. I think the most enriching venture is to create a “communion” between a typeface born in a given language/script form and its potential counterpart in another form. I understand designing an entire Kanji set is a big undertaking, but it would be great if more Japanese designers could have interest in both Japanese ideographic forms and foreign forms of other scripts. In this sense, while Akira Kobayashi is obviously masterful (he even recently revived our Butti and Novarese's Eurostile), On the other hand, I would love to see how he would draw a Kanji or Kana counterpart to some of his Latin designs. I have given a quick look at the Morisawa library and often the Latin component of Kanji faces is drawn without a care… Obviously the opposite of your case… :) I will try to answer your question about my types via email. About Tezuka we're quite lucky, having a lot of his works published here in Italy (in the last 10 years, since manga started to be seriously published here just recently), and Black Jack is definitely my favorite, too, together with Atom. Again, all thanks go to you. :)
I’ll ask Ian your email so I may submit you some other question.

I think the most enriching venture is to create a “communion” between a typeface born in a given language/script form and its potential counterpart in another form. I understand designing an entire Kanji set is a big undertaking, but it would be great if more Japanese designers could have interest in both Japanese ideographic forms and foreign forms of other scripts.
In this sense, while Akira Kobayashi is obviously masterful (he even recently revived our Butti and Novarese’s Eurostile), On the other hand, I would love to see how he would draw a Kanji or Kana counterpart to some of his Latin designs. I have given a quick look at the Morisawa library and often the Latin component of Kanji faces is drawn without a care… Obviously the opposite of your case… :)

I will try to answer your question about my types via email.
About Tezuka we’re quite lucky, having a lot of his works published here in Italy (in the last 10 years, since manga started to be seriously published here just recently), and Black Jack is definitely my favorite, too, together with Atom.

]]> By: Okano http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/archives/2008/05/31-shotype-235937#comment-1303 Okano Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:47:13 +0000 http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/?p=26#comment-1303 Wow! Thanks for your comment Mr.Piccinini. I've just contacted with Ian by email yesterday. He told me that Calligrapher Carl Rohrs will be giving a lecture tonight, but that's too bad that I can't go there due to my business meeting. However, another type related event will be held in the middle of next month. Mr. Gerald Fleuss, who is Chairman of Edward Johnston's Foundation in UK, and Mr. Eiichi Kouno will come to Japan and will be giving a presentation. So I'm going to go to the event with Ian. Of course, I know your name on Typophile. I'm glad to meet with you here. Your typefaces are really interesting to me. What is your inspiration to make your fonts? I'm a type designer for Latin font. I'm making Latin typeface goes with Japanese fonts. Yes I also love the works of Osamu Tezuka. He had great talent and remained a lot of great works. The work I love most is 'Black Jack'. Wow! Thanks for your comment Mr.Piccinini.
I’ve just contacted with Ian by email yesterday. He told me that Calligrapher Carl Rohrs will be giving a lecture tonight, but that’s too bad that I can’t go there due to my business meeting. However, another type related event will be held in the middle of next month. Mr. Gerald Fleuss, who is Chairman of Edward Johnston’s Foundation in UK, and Mr. Eiichi Kouno will come to Japan and will be giving a presentation. So I’m going to go to the event with Ian.

Of course, I know your name on Typophile. I’m glad to meet with you here.
Your typefaces are really interesting to me. What is your inspiration to make your fonts?

I’m a type designer for Latin font. I’m making Latin typeface goes with Japanese fonts.

Yes I also love the works of Osamu Tezuka. He had great talent and remained a lot of great works. The work I love most is ‘Black Jack’.

]]> By: Claudio Piccinini http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/archives/2008/05/31-shotype-235937#comment-1267 Claudio Piccinini Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:19:54 +0000 http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/?p=26#comment-1267 Hi Mr. Okano, I happened to find your page from a link in your typophile profile. I am Italian, and I recently make friendship with Ian Lynam, so it was a great surprise to see you met recently! It's great to have Japanese (and other designers from countries using non-Latin scripts) doing the effort of publishing in English. This allows a communication previously undreamed of… Personally, I cultivate type design as part of a wider interest in the history and forms of writing, and although Japanese is really difficult, I like a lot to have confrontations with type designer and people passionate about writing from all over the world. You can view some old typefaces of mine here: http://www.identifont.com/show?1I7 I am also a big admirer of the work of Tezuka Osamu, and I am very occasionally following a research on his work, and especially the birth of his famous Tetsuwan Atomu (still unpublished in Italy). Many thanks for your blog! [I have bookmarked it] Claudio Hi Mr. Okano,
I happened to find your page from a link in your typophile profile.
I am Italian, and I recently make friendship with Ian Lynam, so it was a great surprise to see you met recently!
It’s great to have Japanese (and other designers from countries using non-Latin scripts) doing the effort of publishing in English. This allows a communication previously undreamed of…
Personally, I cultivate type design as part of a wider interest in the history and forms of writing, and although Japanese is really difficult, I like a lot to have confrontations with type designer and people passionate about writing from all over the world.
You can view some old typefaces of mine here: http://www.identifont.com/show?1I7

I am also a big admirer of the work of Tezuka Osamu, and I am very occasionally following a research on his work, and especially the birth of his famous Tetsuwan Atomu (still unpublished in Italy).

Many thanks for your blog! [I have bookmarked it]
Claudio

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