Hiroshima Peace Song Exhibition

The design was created to deliver a message of peace to the world. Using the English lyrics of the “Hiroshima Peace Song,” performed during the Peace Memorial Ceremony on August 6, I visualized the words as typography flowing from a single drop of water into a powerful waterfall—symbolizing how a message can spread across the globe. The imagery of flowing water was inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s manuscripts, as well as my personal experiences visiting waterfalls.

My main focus was to ensure that the voice for peace from Hiroshima could reach the hearts of many people. In a world where wars continue to be fought without end, I strongly wished that this work could serve, even in a small way, as a catalyst for people to feel something meaningful and to reflect on the importance of peace.

This poster exhibition is held every year at the former Hiroshima Branch of the Bank of Japan, one of the city’s atomic-bombed buildings. I sincerely hope that future exhibitions will attract even more people and provide them with an opportunity to reflect once again on the importance of peace.

This design was created for the 2024 Hiroshima Peace Poster Exhibition, held at the Former Bank of Japan Hiroshima Branch, a building just 380 meters from the atomic bomb’s hypocenter. Given the historical and emotional significance of this location—especially as we approach the 80th anniversary of the war’s end—I felt a deep responsibility to produce a work that went beyond superficial aesthetics and instead addressed the essence of peace.The lyrics of the “Hiroshima Peace Song,” traditionally sung at the conclusion of the August 6 Peace Memorial Ceremony, carry a profound message. I was inspired to represent them typographically, letting the words themselves form the visual foundation. To express the dual emotional currents of Hiroshima—the tranquil, flowing rivers of today and the tragic memories of victims who died desperately seeking water after the bombing—I chose “water” as the central metaphor. A cascading waterfall, simultaneously serene and powerful, emerged as the perfect symbol.While researching natural waterfalls for inspiration, I found that the rocky, rugged formations—though beautiful—often distracted from the idea of pure fluid movement. This led me to recall Leonardo da Vinci’s studies on fluid dynamics, which I had encountered during previous design explorations. I revisited his manuscripts, specifically those held in Japan’s National Diet Library, and found in his observations a profound clarity and simplicity that felt aligned with my goals.The flowing, unimpeded forms Leonardo captured helped shape my design. The waterfall I created doesn’t just visually reference water—it visually releases the song’s message, cascading down as if words themselves were made of water, flowing endlessly like peace should. Just as rain becomes a stream, a river, a waterfall, and then joins the sea before cycling back into the clouds, this work aims to embody an eternal flow of peace, remembrance, and renewal.

The Former Bank of Japan Hiroshima Branch is located a mere 380 meters from the bomb’s hypocenter. At the moment the atomic bomb detonated, people sitting inside were burned into the walls, and portions of those walls are now relocated and exhibited at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in Peace Memorial Park—this is a building of profound historical significance.Although many people perished inside this building and it suffered extensive damage, it symbolized resilience when, starting on August 8—just two days after the bombing—private banks began returning deposits and conducting payouts for citizens. This act became a symbol of post-war recovery. Today, it is preserved as a hibaku (bombed) building under Hiroshima City management, and visitors can tour it free of charge.As I visited the building repeatedly while designing the exhibition, I became intensely aware that I couldn’t just design a message of peace—I had to fully accept and reflect on the horror of war. The feelings and impressions I gained from being inside the structure significantly influenced my design choices.

To embody the essence of the cascading typography depicting the “Hiroshima Peace Song” lyrics, I selected Akzidenz-Grotesk—a simple, refined, and traditional typeface. Its clean, timeless quality resonated deeply with the weight of 80 years since the war and the enduring message of peace. It provided a sense of continuity and respect, echoing the solemn flow of history.For the title of the Hiroshima Peace Poster Exhibition, I chose Gotham, and this choice carried a meaningful cultural connection. Earlier that spring, Christopher Nolan’s film Oppenheimer premiered in Hiroshima, and I watched it twice at Hacchō-za, a cinema located close to the hypocenter. The film’s blend of American perspectives on the atomic bombing and the Japanese experience of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s moral struggle struck a deep chord in me. By using Gotham—the same typeface used in Nolan’s film title—I aimed to honor the director’s nuanced storytelling and reference the film’s dialogue between past and present, East and West. This dual-typeface approach creates a visual and historical conversation: Akzidenz-Grotesk grounding the work in tradition and peace, while Gotham bridges it to contemporary discourse and cultural introspection.