Born in Niigata Pref., April 6, 1915. Studied at Institute for New Architecture and Industrial Art. Joined Nippon Kobo. 1953: solo showing at Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura. 1955: participated in
Graphic’55 exhibition in Tokyo. 1960: founding member of Nippon Design Center. 1962: established Kamekura Design Office.
Major awards (starting 1961): Education Minister’s Art Encouragement Prize, Mainichi Art Award, Asahi Prize, Japan Inter-Design Forum Award for International Culture, Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon, Third Class Order of the Sacred Treasure, Person of Cultural Merits (Agency for Cultural Affairs), Commendation of Meritorious Designers (Ministry of International Trade and Industry), and numerous awards at international poster exhibitions in Warsaw, Brno, Lahti, etc.
1978: participated in establishing JAGDA; served as first president; devoted himself to the organization’s expansion, improvement and legal incorporation (1984). 1981: upon JAGDA’s membership in Icograda, represented JAGDA at Icograda’s General Assembly in Helsinki.
1983: held solo exhibition in Tokyo and published The Works of Yusaku Kamekura (Rikuyo-sha). 1993: inducted in Hall of Fame of both NY ADC and Tokyo ADC. 1994: retired as JAGDA president; received honorary doctorate from Academy of Fine Arts, Warsaw. 1996: solo poster exhibition at National Film Center of National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo.
Deceased May 11, 1997, age 82.
