‘Hiroshima Appeals’ was a campaign initiated by Japan Graphic Association Inc. to promote peace through posters. The idea stemmed from the theme “Hiroshima’s Spirit” and the designs focused on conveying the prayers and wishes of Hiroshima. Since 1983, these posters have been designed annually by different Japanese graphic designers. ‘Burning Butterflies’ by Yusaku Kamekura was the groundbreaking start of this poster series.

Yusaku Kamekura was a leading graphic designer post-World War II, so much so that he was literally nicknamed “Boss” or “godfather of post war Japanese graphic design”. Kamekura was also the founder of Japan Graphic Association Inc. and served as president when ‘Hiroshima Appeals’ first launched.

Kamekura truly was a leader in building a strong graphic design community in Japan. Before Japan as a country opened up to western concepts, art and design was very traditional. Kamekura was on the forefront of bringing graphic design into the nation and design industry. As the “godfather of graphic design”, Kamekura mentored and taught many young graphic designers that would later become notable names in the industry.

Other than ‘Burning Butterflies’, some of Kamekura’s most notable work is from the 1964 Olymics as well as corporate logos for NTT, Nikon, Meiji, and TDK.

Image: Poster, ‘Hiroshima Appeals 1983’, colour offset lithograph, designed by Yusaku Kamekura, illustration by Akira Yokoyama, printed by Toppan Printing Co Ltd, sponsored by Hiroshima International Cultural Foundation Inc and Japan Graphic Design Association Inc (JAGDA), Tokyo, Japan, 1983

Carla Dadulla