Last Friday the logo was revealed for Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It was received with mixed reviews, with many of the opinion that the aesthetic thought that went into the logo wasn’t quite as deep as the message behind it.
As if there wasn’t already enough debate about the execution of the logo design itself, now there are rumors that the design could possibly be a plagiarization of the work of French designer Oliver Debie.
Kenjiro Sano, the designer of both the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games logos, is a successful graphic designer whose work has appeared in a number of popular Japanese advertisements. Some of his most well-known work among residents of Japan include the au LISMO! emblem and ReBORN logo for Toyota’s commercials featuring Jean Reno as Doraemon.
Sano’s emblem, which he proudly posed with after its unveiling last Friday, was chosen from over 100 logo submissions.
Soon after his winning design was unveiled, controversy broke out about how the logo didn’t quite meet the aesthetic qualities Japan is known for, with references made to it resembling the Japanese flag or complaints that the red circle looked like an out-of-place pickled plum.
Despite some people’s initial disappointment, many were starting to get behind the design until recent news surfaced that the logo could have possibly been plagiarized from Debie’s design for Belgium’s Théâtre de Liège.
In this Facebook post made by Studio Debie, not only do the emblems look eerily similar, you can also see both logos utilize the same Clarendon font underneath.
Looking at his previous work above, there’s no doubt that Sano is a very talented graphic designer. Still, even if Sano didn’t take inspiration from Debie’s work, with the whole logo plagiarism debacle that came up between the Telluride Foundation and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, it might have been wiser for the designer to have done a little more research first.
So what do you think? Is this just a case of one designer borrowing just a little too much from another, or is this the result of what happens when two great minds think alike?
Source: Byokan Sunday
Top image: Facebook/Studio Debie
Feature images: Recruit, Swim Swam, Facebook/Studio Debie, brandchannel
Looks like it’s time to say good-bye, and maybe good riddance, to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics logo
Online auction market booming for posters with cancelled, possibly copied 2020 Olympics emblem
Olympic committee expands call for logo design submissions, children and office workers welcome
Is there an adorably chubby bird hiding inside the Tokyo Olympics logo?
Official 2020 Tokyo Olympic logos possess a little secret you might not have noticed
We revisited Sweets Paradise after a decade to see if Japan’s dessert buffet still delivers
Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?
Hayao Miyazaki says Happy New Year to Studio Ghibli fans with new art for Year of the Horse
7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
McDonald’s Japan’s moon-viewing mochi pies are a little more westernized-tasting this year
7 hilarious/inexplicable Japan moments in South Park
Tokyo Station staff share their top 10 favorite ekiben
We rode 11 hours on a sleeper train from Shanghai to Shenzhen and learned a valuable lesson
This hotel in the mountains of Japan has an awesome hi-tech ski/snowboard simulator【Videos】
Beautiful red soy sauce from Japan uses no artificial colors, tastes like nothing else
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Cyberpunk anime meets traditional culture in Ghost in the Shell gold leaf Japanese changing screens
Hello Kitty Choco Egg figures are an adorable trip through three periods of Japanese pop culture【Pics】
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
We found possibly the quietest Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Sumo Sanrio! Hello Kitty and pals team up with Japan Sumo Association for new merch【Pics】
Can a dirty butthole make you filthy rich in Japan? We’re starting a New Year’s lottery experiment
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Governor of Tokyo unveils new city logo, internet responds with questions about plagiarism again
Just what the heck is the Tokyo Olympics symbol supposed to be?
Net user proposes clever changes to 2020 Tokyo Olympics logo in light of one-year delay
New Tokyo Olympic stadium architect responds to accusations of plagiarism
McDonald’s Japan gets into the spirit of the games with new Tokyo 2020 Olympics tumblers
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics announces the winner of its adorable mascot election
Half of Tokyo’s universities to use credits to “convince” students to volunteer in 2020 Olympics
Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics mascot finalists unveiled【Pics & Video】
Tokyo Olympic chief may resign over misogynistic remarks, promises statement
2020 Tokyo Olympic torch relay to tour all 47 prefectures of Japan starting from Fukushima
Tokyo Olympics will not allow spectators from overseas
Tokyo Olympic committee comes up with clever way to let blind children help select Games’ mascots
Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony preliminary ticket prices announced, wallets cry across Japan
A look inside the Tokyo Media Centre for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games
9 ways Tokyo could become more foreigner-friendly in time for the 2020 Olympics
Leave a Reply