Comments for SHOTYPE.com_English http://www.shotype.com/en/blog Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:03:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Type seminor in Kyoto by Okano http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/archives/2008/10/24-shotype-235919#comment-1452 Okano Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:55:49 +0000 http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/?p=32#comment-1452 >:was the request to the designers to understand the forms of the original Japanese logo (in ideograms), rather than the Latin? Yes, I've heard so. After posting original article, I found the article on Shiseido typeface on the Asahi Shinbun, is one of major newspaper in Japan. According to the article, Shinzo Fukuhara, was the first president of Shiseido, directed to compile Shiseido typeface about eighty years ago. "The letter design expressed Fukuhara's philosophy 'rich'", Design division manager, Toshio Yamagata said. I guess that designers of Shiseido need to learn company's philosophy learning how to draw Shiseido typeface. >I find also very inspiring when you say Shiseido’s letters remind you of “Japan’s old days”. I think the letter form has retro feeling. There were a lot of hand writing letters on the advertising in old days. Shiseido typeface reminds me of these hand letterings. >:was the request to the designers to understand the forms of the original Japanese logo (in ideograms), rather than the Latin?
Yes, I’ve heard so.
After posting original article, I found the article on Shiseido typeface on the Asahi Shinbun, is one of major newspaper in Japan. According to the article, Shinzo Fukuhara, was the first president of Shiseido, directed to compile Shiseido typeface about eighty years ago. “The letter design expressed Fukuhara’s philosophy ‘rich’”, Design division manager, Toshio Yamagata said.
I guess that designers of Shiseido need to learn company’s philosophy learning how to draw Shiseido typeface.

>I find also very inspiring when you say Shiseido’s letters remind you of “Japan’s old days”.
I think the letter form has retro feeling. There were a lot of hand writing letters on the advertising in old days. Shiseido typeface reminds me of these hand letterings.

]]> Comment on Type seminor in Kyoto by Claudio Piccinini http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/archives/2008/10/24-shotype-235919#comment-1434 Claudio Piccinini Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:03:43 +0000 http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/?p=32#comment-1434 This is a fantastic post, of exceptional interest. I'm sorry I haven't written you via email yet, I hope to do so very soon. I find extremely interesting Shiseido's consideration over the substance of their image, but I have not understood properly: was the request to the designers to understand the forms of the original Japanese logo (in ideograms), rather than the Latin? I ask because it's not so clear from the text… I find also very inspiring when you say Shiseido's letters remind you of "Japan’s old days". The letters you have drawn with the double pencil method shows a great care. I hope to get affectioned to both forms and substance the way you talked about, some day (I'm still studying the "post-modern" approach we have had in the West after WW2)… This is a fantastic post, of exceptional interest.
I’m sorry I haven’t written you via email yet, I hope to do so very soon.

I find extremely interesting Shiseido’s consideration over the substance of their image, but I have not understood properly: was the request to the designers to understand the forms of the original Japanese logo (in ideograms), rather than the Latin? I ask because it’s not so clear from the text…
I find also very inspiring when you say Shiseido’s letters remind you of “Japan’s old days”.
The letters you have drawn with the double pencil method shows a great care. I hope to get affectioned to both forms and substance the way you talked about, some day (I’m still studying the “post-modern” approach we have had in the West after WW2)…

]]> Comment on A coffee meeting with Ian Lynam 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.

]]> Comment on A coffee meeting with Ian Lynam 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.

]]> Comment on A coffee meeting with Ian Lynam 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.

]]> Comment on A coffee meeting with Ian Lynam 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.

]]> Comment on A coffee meeting with Ian Lynam 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’.

]]> Comment on The exhibition Yasufumi Miyake “Moji wa Ikiteiru” by Okano http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/archives/2008/06/28-shotype-235940#comment-1302 Okano Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:41:19 +0000 http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/?p=31#comment-1302 That's good question. But I can't answer your question right now. As you mentioned, we always use Kana to express the Latin word like English. We don't try to make new Kanji character to express the English word. I can't understand Chinese language, they seem to use Kanji to express the foreign word. Japanese people also used to use Kanji characters as a phonetic equivalent to express latin word, for example a place name. I've googled when Japanese peoplestarted to use Kana to express the Latin word. It seemed to start in the middle of Edo period, around 300 years ago. I guess the people who lived in Edo period needed to distinguish the word came from foreign country and Japanese word using Kana characters. That’s good question. But I can’t answer your question right now.
As you mentioned, we always use Kana to express the Latin word like English.
We don’t try to make new Kanji character to express the English word.
I can’t understand Chinese language, they seem to use Kanji to express the foreign word.
Japanese people also used to use Kanji characters as a phonetic equivalent to express latin word, for example a place name.
I’ve googled when Japanese peoplestarted to use Kana to express the Latin word. It seemed to start in the middle of Edo period, around 300 years ago.
I guess the people who lived in Edo period needed to distinguish the word came from foreign country and Japanese word using Kana characters.

]]> Comment on Shotype.com launched. by Okano http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/archives/2008/04/01-shotype-164618#comment-1283 Okano Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:54:30 +0000 http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/?p=3#comment-1283 Hi Claudio, Wow! Thanks a lot for your comment! I've just contacted Ian by email yesterday. I'm rushing to finish my work now because the deadline is tomorrow morning! So I'll respond your comment one by one after tomorrow meeting. I hope you wait for a while. ;) Best, Kunihiko Hi Claudio,
Wow! Thanks a lot for your comment!
I’ve just contacted Ian by email yesterday.

I’m rushing to finish my work now because the deadline is tomorrow morning!
So I’ll respond your comment one by one after tomorrow meeting.
I hope you wait for a while. ;)
Best,

Kunihiko

]]> Comment on The exhibition Yasufumi Miyake “Moji wa Ikiteiru” by Claudio Piccinini http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/archives/2008/06/28-shotype-235940#comment-1282 Claudio Piccinini Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:18:28 +0000 http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/?p=31#comment-1282 Sorry, mistake: I meant *stopped*, not *started* [in my first line, above]. :=( Sorry, mistake: I meant *stopped*, not *started* [in my first line, above].
:=(

]]> Comment on The exhibition Yasufumi Miyake “Moji wa Ikiteiru” by Claudio Piccinini http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/archives/2008/06/28-shotype-235940#comment-1281 Claudio Piccinini Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:17:41 +0000 http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/?p=31#comment-1281 When does Kanji (historically) started to "develop" new ideograms? I mean, as it's (probably) with Latin words – as it comes to meaning –, is there in Kanji – as it comes to form – a moment in history where Kanji ideorgams stopped to be "added". An example to make it clearer: the English word “capsule" (since it's modern) needs Kana ideograms to be translated, since a Kanji single form does not exist. If I am not wrong, another example is – right :=) – Tetsuwan Atomu, where a part of the name is Kanji and the other (probably "Atomu") is Kana, since it's a modern word, while Tetsuwan ("with the Iron arm"?) is Kanji, I seem to recall. It's a thing which really intrigues me… When does Kanji (historically) started to “develop” new ideograms?
I mean, as it’s (probably) with Latin words – as it comes to meaning –, is there in Kanji – as it comes to form – a moment in history where Kanji ideorgams stopped to be “added”.
An example to make it clearer: the English word “capsule” (since it’s modern) needs Kana ideograms to be translated, since a Kanji single form does not exist.
If I am not wrong, another example is – right :=) – Tetsuwan Atomu, where a part of the name is Kanji and the other (probably “Atomu”) is Kana, since it’s a modern word, while Tetsuwan (”with the Iron arm”?) is Kanji, I seem to recall. It’s a thing which really intrigues me…

]]> Comment on Shotype.com launched. by Claudio Piccinini http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/archives/2008/04/01-shotype-164618#comment-1280 Claudio Piccinini Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:08:45 +0000 http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/?p=3#comment-1280 Your English is good enough to express yourself effectively, and it's the most important thing. As I already said, thank you for starting the pages. I hope you will have other occasions to be in touch with Ian Lynam, too! Also, maybe it's more interesting to see considerations over Japanese writing, more than Latin. There's even too much things on Latin… ;=) Your English is good enough to express yourself effectively, and it’s the most important thing.
As I already said, thank you for starting the pages. I hope you will have other occasions to be in touch with Ian Lynam, too!
Also, maybe it’s more interesting to see considerations over Japanese writing, more than Latin. There’s even too much things on Latin… ;=)

]]> Comment on ICOCA Card with typeface “Take” by Claudio Piccinini http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/archives/2008/06/20-shotype-235908#comment-1268 Claudio Piccinini Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:24:12 +0000 http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/?p=29#comment-1268 Fantastic post. Thank you! :=) Fantastic post. Thank you! :=)

]]> Comment on A coffee meeting with Ian Lynam 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

]]> Comment on Japanese black ink stick, Sumi. by shotype http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/archives/2008/04/21-shotype-180721#comment-1193 shotype Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:45:53 +0000 http://www.shotype.com/en/blog/?p=8#comment-1193 Hi Giovanelli, I'll send you the info about Kobaien soon. Kunihiko Hi Giovanelli,
I’ll send you the info about Kobaien soon.
Kunihiko

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