KOTOBA PRINTS' artist Issey Fujishima is fascinated by language and what can be gained in translation.
As Japanese culture is gaining popularity across the world, more and more Japanese words can be heard around us. Many people are enchanted by their exotic sound and the Chinese characters by which they are written.
The posters at KOTOBA PRINT lift some linguistic secrets by revealing the literal translations of Japanese place names.
Japan and her Prefectures in English
The names of many places in Japan and Tokyo go back centuries and remain as humble witnesses to the landscape, people, and values of the past.
Sometimes, the translation is straightforward: Yotsuya simply means 'four valleys.' Often, however, there is a hidden history behind the name. Mitsukoshi, for example, is an abbreviated compound of a famous business and its founders: the 350 years-old Echigo-Ya (越後屋) shop and the Mitsui (三井) family, shortened to 三越, or, Mitsukoshi.
Through KOTOBA PRINTS' posters, Issey hopes that you will find new enjoyment in Japanese culture, history, and language.