Hiroshima Peace Song Tentoonstelling by Naoya Katagami is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award in Zilver in Grafisch, Illustratie en Visuele Communicatie Ontwerp Competition Category.
ZilverGrafisch· 2025
Hiroshima Peace Song Tentoonstelling
Client: Jagda Hiroshima
A' Design Award in Zilver Winner in Grafisch Category
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- Verified Award Winner
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The Design
About Hiroshima Peace Song Tentoonstelling
De ontwerper creëerde het ontwerp door zich voor te stellen hoe een enkele waterdruppel zich uitbreidt tot een neerdalende waterval, gebruikmakend van de teksten van het Hiroshima Peace Song. Geïnspireerd door principes die verwant zijn aan Japanse Zen, is het ontwerp geplaatst op een effen achtergrond zodat de eenvoud ervan een diepere betekenis krijgt naarmate men het langer observeert. De Engelse teksten van het Hiroshima Peace Song, dat elk jaar aan het einde van de Peace Memorial Ceremony op 6 augustus wordt gezongen, worden gebruikt om te symboliseren hoe vrede zich naar buiten kan verspreiden.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award in Zilver
Hiroshima Peace Song Tentoonstelling is winnaar van de A' Design Award in Zilver, een buitengewoon prestigieuze erkenning die wordt toegekend aan topontwerpen die prachtig en indrukwekkend zijn. Winnaars in Zilver zijn enorm briljante en uiterst creatieve werken die de uitmuntende expertise, het talent en de scherpzinnigheid van hun ontwerpers illustreren. Hiroshima Peace Song Tentoonstelling wordt verwacht een prachtig paradepaardje te zijn dat opmerkelijk professioneel en diepgaand innovatief is. Dit ontwerp dat de A' Design Award in Zilver heeft gewonnen, is een hoogst opmerkelijke, bewonderde uitvinding die baat en de grenzen van kunst, wetenschap, ontwerp en technologie verlegt. Hiroshima Peace Song Tentoonstelling is een zeer benijde creatie die verlangens oproept, positieve gevoelens brengt en verbazing en verwondering doet ontvlammen.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- I created this design by envisioning how a single droplet of water expands into a cascading waterfall, using the lyrics of the “Hiroshima Peace Song.” Inspired by principles akin to Japanese Zen, I placed the design on a plain white background so that its simplicity yields deeper significance the more one observes it.
To portray the flow of the waterfall, I studied Leonardo da Vinci’s manuscripts on water dynamics. I used the English lyrics of the “Hiroshima Peace Song”—chorused every year at the end of the Peace Memorial Ceremony on August 6—to symbolize how peace can spread outward. A single droplet represents an individual, while the river and waterfall evoke the collective consciousness extending from that individual. The molecular clusters of water, signifying human connections and communities, are woven into various parts of the design.
Rather than a commercial endeavor, this project aims to express a deeper, essential meaning of peace. - Dimensions & Packaging
- Exhibition Banner Tapestry
Prominently displayed at the main entrance
Dimensions: W2,000 mm × H5,500 mm
Signage 1
Dimensions: W900 mm × H1,800 mm
Signage 2 / 3 / 4
Each: W450 mm × H1,500 mm
Information Boards
Four boards, each A4 size
Flyer
A4, double-sided, full color plus one spot color
Printed on Araveil paper
Name Cards
Three designs in total: “Hiroshima Appeals,” “Hiroshima Peace Poster Exhibition,” and “Hiroshima Peace Poster Student Competition”
Venue Layout
Comprehensive floor plan for the exhibition space - Tags
- Peace,Poster,Exhibition,Design, Water Imagery, Typographic Design, Da Vinci Inspiration, Hiroshima History, Peace Advocacy, Poster Exhibition, Community Engagement, Gotham Font
- Production Technology
- This poster exhibition was held at the Former Bank of Japan Hiroshima Branch, a historic building located in the heart of Hiroshima and just 380 meters from the bombing’s hypocenter. Because many local citizens attend, we aimed for an immediately striking design. We utilized Akzidenz-Grotesk, a historically significant typeface, for the primary typography, while the exhibition’s title features Gotham—famously used for the film “Oppenheimer”—to add deeper resonance.
We chose a black-on-white monochrome palette to ensure that the showcased works would stand out, including “Hiroshima Appeals” posters, professional designers’ pieces, and a total of 68 selected student posters. Recognizing the classic architecture of the building and its profound historical context, we strove to create a visual presentation that harmonizes with its setting. - Design Challenge
- We focused on conveying both Hiroshima’s global reputation—rooted in its cultural and historical significance—and the city’s present calm, peaceful atmosphere, encouraging visitors to experience both. All of the exhibited works advocate peace, making this a truly remarkable poster exhibition. Our primary goal was to spark interest while ensuring the design carried a deeply meaningful message.
- Research
- We were able to welcome a large number of visitors. The Former Bank of Japan Hiroshima Branch is located in the heart of Hiroshima’s bustling downtown, where many commuters pass by each day. The prominent Exhibition Banner Tapestry at the entrance successfully attracted people’s interest and drew them in.
Additionally, A4 flyers were placed in the Atomic Bomb Museum and various municipal offices, which also helped bring in many attendees. Overall, we believe this event provided a valuable opportunity for many to reflect on peace once again. - Inspiration
- When designing the “Hiroshima Peace Poster Exhibition 2024,” an annual event organized by JAGDA Hiroshima, my primary goal was to create something truly meaningful. In 2025, Hiroshima will mark 80 years since the atomic bombing, and even in 2024, key events like the release of the film “Oppenheimer” and the G7 Summit highlight the importance of revisiting the concept of peace.
I chose to blend the lyrics of Hiroshima’s “Hiroshima Peace Song” with water—a symbol both of what bomb survivors longed for and of Hiroshima’s modern cityscape—to convey an essential message through typography, while also reflecting the city’s peaceful atmosphere today. To accurately portray the flow of water, I studied Leonardo da Vinci’s manuscripts, focusing on his observations of fluid dynamics. Inspired by the image of a cascading waterfall, I hoped to evoke the sense of peace spreading outward among all who experience the design. - Project Duration
- Exhibition Period
August 25 (Sun) – August 30 (Fri), 2024
10:00 – 19:00
Venue
Former Bank of Japan Hiroshima Branch (Atomic Bombed Building) - Operation Flow
- This design invites visitors to follow a visual flow, starting with the large tapestry and moving through various signage. Each element guides attendees through the exhibition, helping them connect more deeply with its theme of peace. By uniting water imagery, typography, and strategic pacing, the experience is both intuitive and immersive, encouraging thoughtful reflection and dialogue.
- Image Credits
- Main Image: PHOTO / Naoya Katagami, SOUND / Words by Yoshio Shigezono Music by Minoru Yamamoto The city of Hiroshima,
Image #1: PHOTO / Naoya Katagami, SOUND / Words by Yoshio Shigezono Music by Minoru Yamamoto The city of Hiroshima
Image #2: PHOTO / Naoya Katagami, SOUND / Words by Yoshio Shigezono Music by Minoru Yamamoto The city of Hiroshima
Image #3: PHOTO / Naoya Katagami, SOUND / Words by Yoshio Shigezono Music by Minoru Yamamoto The city of Hiroshima,
Image #4: PHOTO / Naoya Katagami, SOUND / Words by Yoshio Shigezono Music by Minoru Yamamoto The city of Hiroshima,
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