15 Iconic Japanese Posters You Should See

by Jes Kalled | ART

Japanese art is renowned for its subtlety and muted colors, but this isn’t always the case. When an artist is called upon to make a bold statement the results can be quite different. Here we take a look at some classic Japanese poster art of the 20th century. From vintage posters back in the 1920s, to some high fashion interpretations of the present day, we’ll explore 15 of the best of Japanese poster design.

1. Please Refrain from Noisy Behavior

Noisy Behaviour — *Please Refrain from Noisy Behavior* by Kadowaki Takahiro, 2018, V&A

In 2016, Seibu Railways commissioned Art Director, Yokohama Yumiko, and Illustrator, Kadowaki Takahiro, to create a series of posters about proper train etiquette. In 2018, “pictures of train car nuisance,” or denshanai meiwaku zue (電車内迷惑図絵) was produced. The move is thought to have been inspired by the influx of foreign tourists at the time. The appeal of the poster style was intended for all audiences. Drawn in the popular and easily recognizable woodblock print Ukiyo-e style, they likely hoped the ad would connect with all audiences. Additional posters in the collection include titles like “Please turn down your volume,” and “Please consider others when moving bulky luggage.” The art seems to touch a sensitive nerve regarding how foreigners are perceived by some in Japan. The commission itself highlights a society that believes there are gaps. So, does the art show how to close them?

2. Summer at Miho

Nagoya Rail Travel released this poster in 1930 as part of their travel campaign. In the 1930’s the Japanese government made a special effort to promote domestic travel as a way to boost their economy and encourage national pride. This particular poster is an advertisement for the Miho Peninsula in Shizuoka prefecture. In the background one can find Mount Fuji, a symbol of Japan’s national identity.

3. Koshimaki Osen

The signature style of illustrator and designer Tadanori Yokoo captured here is psychedelic, an interest of his that deepened after travels in India. A relic of the times, this poster captures the artist’s tone and attention to the era, the 60’s, and to the environment around him which was bursting with controversy. The bold colors, and his habit of using symbolic, well-known images, highlight his political and abstract observation; constructing with deconstruction and collage. Yokoo’s other works contain dark tones relevant to his own identity, and that of Japan’s as well, reflecting an artist who was aware of how a time can twist things.

4. Nihon Buyo

*Ikko Tanaka Nihon Buyo* by Ikko Tanaka, 1981, MOMA

Seminal Japanese graphic designer and Muji co-founder, Ikko Tanaka, made this poster in 1981. The artist was known for his experiments with blending Japanese traditional aesthetics with modernism, as seen here in the poster for the Nihon Buyo, a performance by the Asian Performing Arts Institute. Tanaka also designed works for large corporations such as Issey Miyake (a close friend) and Mazda. An expert in symbol play, the artist’s work was also displayed at the World Expo in 1985, and helped to redefine the world of graphic design.

5. Issey Miyake

Nihon Bunyo Dress by Issey Miyake — *Nihon Bunyo Dress* by Issey Miyake, 2016, V&A

Pictured here is Issey Miyake’s homage to the late Ikko Tanaka. The Nihon Buyo Dress is fashioned to match none other than Tanaka’s Nihon Buyo poster from 1981. However, here the poster finds a canvas on the fabric of a kimono. Miyake and Tanaka were close friends and collaborators, both known for their innovation and particular interest in blending tradition with present-day flux. Today Miyake is well known for the enormous generational span of his work in fashion and design shown around the world.

6. Subway

*Asia's First Subway* by Hisui Sugiura, 1927

In this poster by Hisui Sugiura, the text states that "the first subway in Asia is now in operation.” The Tokyo Underground Railway famously opened for passengers in 1927. Previously the railway had been opened in 1915, but this was only for railway post-office employees. Sugiura’s poster celebrates the access granted to all Tokyo citizens. At the time, the train covered the route from Ueno to Akasaka, a distance of 2.2 km.

7. Akira

A rare poster from 1988 depicting the scene in Katsushiro Otomo’s cyberpunk cult classic, Akira, where Tokyo has been all but obliterated. This poster was for the release of the anime film, which was produced four years after the creation of the comic series, but interestingly shows a hand drawn and colored version from the original manga—not the anime. Both the manga and the anime were created by Otomo himself, set in Tokyo in a dystopian 2019.

8. 1964 Tokyo Olympics

Artist Yusaku Kamekura created the iconic 1964 Tokyo Olympic poster that many still reference today. The simple and powerful design has withstood the test of time, invoking a sense of identity and legacy of both the Olympic Games and Japan’s post war climb to a new era. The design itself and its particular use of the pictogram has likely influenced the art and stylization of branding worldwide ever since.

9. My Neighbor Totoro

Lo and behold the most “sought after” movie poster of the widely beloved 1988 film, My Neighbor Totoro (となりのトトロ) by Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki. The story takes place in rural post war Japan, where two sisters, Mei and Satsuki, explore the nature around them. Magic and imagination guides them to meet and have adventures with the spirits of the forest. Together they go deep into their present. The famous scene pictured here shows Satsuki and Mei waiting for their father to arrive by bus in the rain with their friend, Totoro.

10. Godzilla

The first of the many, many Godzilla films in the extended international franchise, this poster captures the kaiju (monster) we have all come to associate with Japanese pop culture. Godzilla has had many characterizations as the years have passed, ranging from antihero to superhero. Here, in his first iteration in 1954, he represents fear. “The theme of the film, from the beginning, was the terror of the bomb. Mankind had created the bomb, and now nature was going to take revenge on mankind." Said Director Ishiro Honda.

11. Kirin Beer

Kirin Beer Ad — *Kirin Beer* by Tada Hokuu, 1939

In 1939, the shadow of war was waxing, not waning. Seen here in artist Tada Hokuu’s ad for Kirin Beer, a not-so-subtle gun replaces what–in peaceful times–should be a beer glass to match. The poster captures a moment in history, a reflection of a country at war, and under the influx of change. Ads like this one depict the influence and temperature of industrialization, political unrest, and the tensions surrounding Western ideals.

12. Anti-War Poster

The 1960’s were a tumultuous time. Captured here is the propaganda anti-war poster made by designer Kenji Iwasaki, who appeared not to be afraid to make art that contained political messages. Solid colors and lines and symbols seem to characterize the technique of Iwasaki. The simplicity made his message easy to grab, like the hands he drew to encapsulate it. Other works by Iwasaki included cover designs for magazines sponsored by Maruzen Co., and Diamond publishing.

13. Asahi Beer

Asahi Beer Ad — Asahi Beer by Kazumasa Nagai, 1959

This poster by Kazumasa Nagai memoralizes the creation and production of the “Asahi Steiny,” a small-sized beer that was to be sold during that time. This poster won the gold prize at the Warsaw International Poster Biennial. In addition to working with giant corporations like Asahi, Nagai additionally made his own expressionistic, geometric posters and designs that appear to change form as the years go by. Before the use of computers, Nagai’s images were hand drawn with a compass and ruler.

14. From Nihonbashi

From Nihonbashi by Imai Hisamaro, 1930 — *From Nihonbashi* by Imai Hisamaro, 1930

The term moga, or “modern girl,” references Japanese women who stylized themselves in Western fashion trends of the times. This poster titled, From Nihonbashi, portrays a young moga in Nihonbashi, a thriving neighborhood of the Tokyo metropolis. Noticeably here in this advertisement by Imai Hisamaro, the woman is looking towards Mitsukoshi store, which is a famous department store, known for its fashionable taste.

15. Diary of a Shinjuku Burglar

Diary of a Shinjuku Burglar by Tadanori Yokoo, 1968 — *Diary of a Shinjuku Burglar* by Tadanori Yokoo, 1968

Tadanori Yokoo designed this silkscreen poster for the new wave film, Diary of a Shinjuku Thief. In typical fashion, akin to the ilk of the artist, the color palette is psychedelic in nature, and pulls on the strings of pop art and collage. Interestingly, Yokoo also starred in the film by Oshima Nagisa, as one of the two main characters, Birdie Hilltop, who steals from a Kinokuniya bookstore. The movie tells the story of a relationship between a man and a woman in Shinjuku, focusing on themes of identity and sexuality. These were topics that Tadanori Yokoo was not shy of delving into, no matter the medium.