Introducing our articles related to pictograms and symbols, which are part of the “Pictograms: Iconic Japanese Designs” exhibition on display at JAPAN HOUSE LA from 2/12/2026 until 5/3/2026.
Related Readings
© Nippon Design Center
Kamon Chronicles The Secrets of Japanese Family Crests Kamon , or Japanese family crests, are graphic motifs that would be found on clothing, samurai armor, transport and other items belonging to families, serving as a visual shorthand for identity and heritage in Japan for more than a millennium. In the recent decades, kamon has evolved and now can be found incorporated in corporate logos or in the works of fashion designers.
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More than Mail The Culture and History of the Japanese Postal System
The distinctive T-shaped symbol ( 〒 ) marks the Japanese postal mail system since it was announced by Japan’s Ministry of Communications during the Meiji era in 1887. The symbol represents an early example of what we might now call “emoji - like” communication— a visual shorthand that could be understood by anyone, regardless of literacy level or linguistic background.
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Station to Station Japan’s Iconic Eki Stamps
Eki stamps ( eki sutanpu ) are provided at train stations across Japan, allowing travelers to imprint unique designs representing each location onto their own notebooks or papers. Often circular with the station name running around the perimeter, each stamp is a carefully designed snapshot of place and aims to capture local identity — from natural landscapes for mountain stations, regional mascots, traditional crafts, or other landmarks.
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© NTT DOCOMO, INC.
Innovative Symbols of Sport Graphic Designing the Olympic Games
The emoji symbols were first seen in Japan in black and white in 1997, and expanded to a full color set of 176 emoji for NTT Docomo by designer Shigetaka Kurita. This initial set was created with a limited canvas of 12 x 12 pixels per image but were still easily recognized by mobile users. Many of them have evolved over the years and are still seen daily in text messages, emails and social media posts today, such as a heart, martini glass, and smiley face. Emoji A New Visual Language with Japanese Roots
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (which was postponed to summer of 2021) introduced pictograms, minimalist visual symbols, for representing not only individual sports but other wayfinding information (i.e., help visitors find a telephone, a first-aid station, a bank, and restrooms.). The pictograms were such a blockbuster success that they became an official part of Olympic policy.
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