
The first in a series of visual excerpts from the out-of-print book 和英文字レタリング (Japanese and English Lettering) by Tsunetoshi Hurusawa (古沢恒敏), a collection of assorted lettering styles culled from history.
Originally published in 1978, the book is a great study of the types of lettering used by typical “fancy”/ファンシー businesses (many cafes, snacks, cake shops, and assorted post-WWII through pre-1990s service-oriented businesses). A number of the lettering styles within are the blueprints for these types of businesses’ lettering.
和英文字レタリング helps explain much of the Tokyo letterscape of recent history.
Ian Lynam is a graphic designer living in Tokyo and the art director of Neojaponisme. His website is located at
ianlynam.com. His new book,
Parallel Strokes, on the intersection of graffiti and typography is available now.
Posted in Conceptions of Japan, Features, History, Language, Moji Salvage, Visual Art Comments Off on Moji Salvage 10

The latest in a series of visual excerpts from the out-of-print book 和英文字レタリング (Japanese and English Lettering) by Tsunetoshi Hurusawa (古沢恒敏), a collection of assorted lettering styles culled from history.
Originally published in 1978, the book is a great study of the types of lettering used by typical “fancy”/ファンシー businesses (many cafes, snacks, cake shops, and assorted post-WWII through pre-1990s service-oriented businesses). A number of the lettering styles within are the blueprints for these types of businesses’ lettering.
和英文字レタリング helps explain much of the Tokyo letterscape of recent history.
Ian Lynam is a graphic designer living in Tokyo and the art director of Neojaponisme. His website is located at
ianlynam.com. His new book,
Parallel Strokes, on the intersection of graffiti and typography is available now.
Posted in Conceptions of Japan, Features, History, Language, Moji Salvage, The Past, Visual Art Comments Off on Moji Salvage 9

The latest in a series of visual excerpts from the out-of-print book 和英文字レタリング (Japanese and English Lettering) by Tsunetoshi Hurusawa (古沢恒敏), a collection of assorted lettering styles culled from history.
Originally published in 1978, the book is a great study of the types of lettering used by typical “fancy”/ファンシー businesses (many cafes, snacks, cake shops, and assorted post-WWII through pre-1990s service-oriented businesses). A number of the lettering styles within are the blueprints for these types of businesses’ lettering.
和英文字レタリング helps explain much of the Tokyo letterscape of recent history.
Ian Lynam is a graphic designer living in Tokyo and the art director of Neojaponisme. His website is located at
ianlynam.com. His new book,
Parallel Strokes, on the intersection of graffiti and typography is available now.
Posted in Conceptions of Japan, Features, History, Language, Moji Salvage, The Past, Visual Art Comments Off on Moji Salvage 8

The latest in a series of visual excerpts from the out-of-print book 和英文字レタリング (Japanese and English Lettering) by Tsunetoshi Hurusawa (古沢恒敏), a collection of assorted lettering styles culled from history.
Originally published in 1978, the book is a great study of lettering used by typical “fancy”/ファンシー businesses — mainly cafés, “snack bars”, cake shops, and assorted 1950s-1990s service-oriented businesses. A number of the lettering styles within the book became the blueprints for these types of businesses’ lettering.
『和英文字レタリング』 is a great compendium of work that helps explain much of the Tokyo letterscape of recent history. This visual series will continue in weekly installments.
Ian Lynam is a graphic designer living in Tokyo and the art director of Neojaponisme. His website is located at
ianlynam.com. His new book,
Parallel Strokes, on the intersection of graffiti and typography is available now.
Posted in Conceptions of Japan, Features, History, Language, Moji Salvage, Visual Art Comments Off on Moji Salvage 6

The latest in a series of visual excerpts from the out-of-print book 和英文字レタリング (Japanese and English Lettering) by Tsunetoshi Hurusawa (古沢恒敏), a collection of assorted lettering styles culled from history.
Originally published in 1978, the book is a great study of lettering used by typical “fancy”/ファンシー businesses — mainly cafés, “snack bars”, cake shops, and assorted 1950s-1990s service-oriented businesses. A number of the lettering styles within the book became the blueprints for these types of businesses’ lettering.
『和英文字レタリング』 is a great compendium of work that helps explain much of the Tokyo letterscape of recent history. This visual series will continue in weekly installments.
Ian Lynam is a graphic designer living in Tokyo and the art director of Neojaponisme. His website is located at
ianlynam.com. His new book,
Parallel Strokes, on the intersection of graffiti and typography is available now.
Posted in Conceptions of Japan, Features, History, Language, Moji Salvage, The Past, Visual Art 2 Comments »