角字で新元号『令和』を作ってみました
新元号が『令和』に決った記念に角字を作ってみました。角字は、江戸時代に誕生したグラフィックアートです。正方形のグリッド内にほぼ水平・垂直のラインのみで文字（漢字）が表現されます。お祭りで着る半被や印半纏(しるしばんてん)、商標、印鑑、家紋、看板などに使われました。
There is a style of penmanship called “Kakuji” in Japan. Edo-born Kakuji is a graphicart that expresses letters (kanji) with almost horizontal and vertical lines only.
The design which bases on many straight lines seems simple, or too plain even at its first glance; yet this beautiful artistic penmanship that encompasses the aesthetic of the Japanese in the Edo era, also known as “Iki”, and playfulness has long been inherited to this day, thanks to the masteries’ long years of efforts in training and refinement.
Kakuji with its simplicity and depth is used for designs such as trademark, hanko stamp, family crest and signboard.
角字とは？ －遊び心満載の伝統的な和のグラフィックアート－ What is Kakuji? －Traditional Japanese Graphic Art with Playful Spirit－
日本には、「角字」という書体があります。江戸時代に誕生した角字は、正方形のグリッド内にほぼ水平・垂直のラインのみで文字（漢字）が表現されるグラフィックアートです。直線を多用したそのデザインは、一見質素で、ともすれば地味になりそうだと思われますが、職人たちが長年にわたり研鑽、洗練したおかげで、江戸時代の日本人が持っていた「粋」と呼ばれる美意識と遊び心が結晶した、美しいアート書体として、今日まで伝えられてきました。
There is a style of penmanship called “Kakuji” in Japan. Edo-born Kakuji is a graphicart that expresses letters (kanji) with almost horizontal and vertical lines only. The design which bases on many straight lines seems simple, or too plain even at its first glance; yet this beautiful artistic penmanship that encompasses the aesthetic of the Japanese in the Edo era, also known as “Iki”, and playfulness has long been inherited to this day, thanks to the masteries’ long years of efforts in training and refinement.