Japanese graphic design from the 1920s-30s ~ Pink Tentacle

In the 1920s and 1930s, Japan embraced new forms of graphic design as waves of social change swept across the nation. This collection of 50 posters, magazine covers and advertisements offer a glimpse at some of the prevailing tendencies in a society transformed by the growth of modern industry and technology, the popularity of Western art and culture, and the emergence of leftist political thought.

"Buy Domestic!" poster, 1930 [+]

Cover of "Nippon" magazine issue #1, Oct 1934 [+]

"Fuji Weekly" cover, Oct 1930 [+]

Poster for Japan's first national census, 1920 [+] // "Health for body and country" poster, c. 1930 [+]

Grand Nagoya Festival poster by Kenkichi Sugimoto, 1933 [+]

Kyoto Grand Exposition to Commemorate the Showa Imperial Coronation, 1928 [+]

Poster design by Shujiro Shimomura, 1928 [+]

"NAPF" (Nippona Artista Proleta Federacio) magazine cover, Feb 1931 [+]

"NAPF" (Nippona Artista Proleta Federacio) magazine covers: Sep 1931 // Oct 1931

"May 1" movie poster by Hiromu Hara, 1928-1929 [+]

"Senki" magazine covers: Oct 1929 // Nov 1929

"Senki" magazine covers: May 1930 // Jan 1930

Cover of "Nippon" magazine issue #7, June 1936 [+]

Magazine ad for "Seishun Zukai" movie, 1931 [+]

"Affiches" magazine issue #2, Aug 1927 [+] // "Affiches" magazine issue #3, Sep 1927 [+]

"The Advertising World" magazine cover, Sep 1933 [+]

Book covers: "Modern Commercial Art," 1928 [+] // "Kite" (Tako - 凧) by Takehisa Yumeji, 1926 [+]

Poster for 1940 Grand International Exposition of Japan (canceled due to war), 1938 [+]

Poster for the 1940 Olympic Games in Tokyo (canceled due to WWII), 1936 (by Hiromu Hara) [+]

"The Advertising World" magazine cover, June 1926 [+]

"Reijin" sheet music cover, 1930 [+]

"Songs of Miss Nippon" sheet music cover, 1930 [+] // "Modern Tokyo" sheet music cover, 1929 [+]

Cover of "Nippon" magazine issue #2, Jan 1935 [+]

Poster for Shimadzu mannequin exhibition, 1935 [+]

Designs by Kurazo Murota: Poster, 1928 // Catalog cover, 1927

Poster for Tokyo Construction Fair, 1935 [+]

Cover of "Affiches" magazine issue #1, 1927 [+]

Magazine ads for movies: "Omohide Ooki Onna", 1931 // "Wakaki Hi no Kangeki," 1931

Magazine ads for movies: "Chuya Gyojoki," 1931 // "Shukujo Club," 1931

"Young Miss" (Ojo-san) movie poster, 1930 [+]

"Fuji Weekly" cover, Aug 1930 [+]

Poster for "Volga" and "College Life," 1930 [+] // Poster for "Kriemhild’s Revenge," 1925 [+]

Nikke business clothing poster ad by Gihachiro Okayama, 1931 [+]

Nikke sports coat poster ad by Gihachiro Okayama, 1931 [+]

Nikke socks and knitwear poster ad by Gihachiro Okayama, 1932 [+]

Nikke socks and knitwear poster ad by Gihachiro Okayama, 1936 [+]

Nikke coat poster ad by Gihachiro Okayama, 1937 [+]

Nikke summer clothing poster ad by Gihachiro Okayama, 1937 [+]

Nikke socks and knitwear poster ad by Gihachiro Okayama, 1937 [+]

More:
- Japanese industrial expo posters (1920s-1940s)
- Japanese proletarian posters (1930s)

[Source: "Modernism on Paper: Japanese Graphic Design of the 1920s-30s", (published 2003)]

via pinktentacle.com