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日本語のリズムとタイポグラフィ

Book Design, Exhibition

Non-client work

2025

The concept of “rhythm,” which serves as the standard for one's sense of aesthetics, is explored in depth in this work. Through an explanatory book and a web application, the essence of rhythm inherent in the Japanese writing system and its connection to Japanese typography are investigated. The 140-page explanatory book begins with a discussion of what rhythm is, delving into the rhythms embedded in the Japanese language, the rhythms involved in the act of reading, and various experiments aimed at capturing the rhythms of speech. These are organized not chronologically but by rhythm-specific themes across different chapters. Selected double-page spreads are used to create an exhibition space that visually showcases the morphological diversity inherent in the Japanese language as a form of visual abundance.From this extensive research, the project identifies “unevenness”as the rhythm within contemporary Japanese writing. Building on this, a web application called the "Graytone Rhythm Visualizer" was developed, which visualizes the density of characters in typesetting. This work was awarded the Excellence Prize at the 2024 Degree Show of the Department of Visual Communication Design at Musashino Art University.

  • Client

    Non-client work

  • Year

    2025

  • Size

    297mm390mm (Book), Onscreen

  • Typefaces

    , NPG, Neue Serie57, Univers Next Condensed

  • Research, Design

    Shunsuke Kudo

  • Research Mentor

    Prof. Yoshihisa Shirai

  • Photography

    Shunsuke Kudo

  • Interior Design

    Shunsuke Kudo, Suzuna Ishiyama

  • Installation

    Suzuna Ishiyama, Chiharu Kato, Hinata Sato, Reo Takeoka, Takuma Hamamura, Kanata Fukuma, Ei Maruo, Fuka Mimori, Gaku Myojin, Yurara Yabe

  • Support for Writing Notation

    Kanata Fukuma, Fuka Mimori

  • Acknowledgment

    Aoi Nishimura, Musashino Art University Museum & Library,

  • Website

    https://vcd.musabi.ac.jp/sotsuten/2024/

  • Printing

    ,

  • Venue

    Musashino Art University 10-312A

  • Exhibition Date

    Jan 16th - Jan 19th, 2025