THE JAPAN NEWS


 

The Tokyo metropolitan government has announced three options for a new Tokyo logo design that reflects the alure of the city to a worldwide audience.

The metropolitan government will conduct a screening and selection process — which includes garnering opinions from Tokyo residents — before deciding on the new design. The final decision is expected to be made by the end of April.

The new logo will be displayed in airports and used for government publicity materials.

The three designs each accompany a catchphrase.

“Tokyo Tokyo Old meets New” is written in both calligraphy and gothic face font styles to express the idea that traditions handed down from the Edo period (1603-1867) coexist with cutting-edge culture.

Another logo uses the catchphrase “Suteki! (beautiful) Tokyo” and is characterized by a pattern of linked ovals called “shippo tsunagi.”

The logo with the catchphrase “Tokyo Yours” uses the letter “o” as a smiley face to express the idea of overseas visitors enjoying Tokyo.

When Yoichi Masuzoe was the governor of Tokyo, the metropolitan government launched “&Tokyo” as the official logo.

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, however, has asked for a review of the logo as she said it is not easy to understand the meaning.

The “&Tokyo” logo is to be used for domestic publicity, and the new one for overseas promotion.