Muji Poster 2001 by Tanaka Ikko (田中一光)

A poster by 田中一光 (Tanaka Ikko), creator of the Muji brand and aesthetic. This poster, from 2001, is advertising the renweal of a Muji store in Aoyama 3-chome. The text above the Muji logo reads “September 1st Now Opening. Address: Aoyama Building 1F, 2-12-28 Kita Aoyama, Minato-Ku Tokyo. Number: 03-3478-5800 Open 11am-9pm”. The text featured in the middle of the poster reads “Love is not decorated”. A seeming direct link to the simplicity and minimalist aesethetic of the aesthetic Muji home goods brand. 

This specific store no longer stands, but its parent company holds a longstanding legacy of “unbranded” branded goods. The posters message is indicative of this initial mission statement, and holds the same characteristic Muji logo evident on contemporary Muji products and commercial materials.

Tanaka Ikko, the company and correlating poster's creator was alive between 1/13/1930-1/10/2002 and passed away at 71, with his work living on far after his inception. He was a leading graphic designer of the Showa period, and the creative director of the Saison Group, one  of the largest Japanese distribution groups near its inception.