Message from the awardee
This is an award I had come to believe I would never encounter now.
Recent recipients–Kenya Hara, Kashiwa Sato–have been of a new generation. Advertising and graphics had both been eagerly awaiting powerful stimuli, and those considered new designers have thoroughly strengthened to the extent that any of them are in a position to win this award. Frankly, my receipt represents a slight step backward. Yet I have no intention of yielding silently to anyone else, and I am fortunate to still have been able to compete against young candidates for this award.
I encountered Mr. Kamekura’s works within the design environment of the 1960s. His Nikon posters, lining the walls of the old station building at Ikebukuro, were a salvation to my gloom-laden young mind. I was moved with the realization that design had a future. Forty years later have brought me to my present fate. In addition to being grateful to Mr. Kamekura, I am inspired to strive so that I might convey to future generations the thrill I felt toward design in those days.
Masayoshi Nakajo
Born in Tokyo in 1933. Upon graduation from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in 1956 with a degree in Design, joined the advertising department of Shiseido. In1959 left Shiseido for Deska; then in 1960 went freelance and in 1961 established Nakajo Design Office.
Major work includes: art direction and design for Shiseido’s PR magazine Hanatsubaki, The Ginza and Tactics Design; CI planning for Matsuya Ginza Department Store, Wacoal Spiral Building, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo and Hosomi Art Museum; logotype and package design for Shiseido Parlor; logo for GRANDUO; and logotype and sign planning for Tokyo Ginza Shiseido Building.
Awards received to date include ADC Award, ADC Membership Grand Prize, Hiromu Hara Memorial Prize, Katzumie Masaru Award, TDC Members Gold Prize, Mainichi Design Award. In 1998, received a Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon from the Japanese Government.
(As of June 2003)
Book containing the design: Graphic Design in Japan 2003
