These posters was printed with the help of Kyoto Benrido, a company founded in 1887, using collotype, a printing technology dating back to the Meiji period. Collotype requires the instincts and skills of experienced craftsmen working by hand, so is generally used for printing things like reproductions of cultural artifacts such as a national treasures, or by photographers for their work—it is virtually unheard-of for it to be used to print posters. However, its breadth and smoothness of colors, its unique textures, are truly a “traditional technique” of Kyoto, one that has evolved since the Meiji period. The only company in the world still using this technique is Benrido. These posters incorporate homages to the character of the Meiji
era, when a completely new culture flowered extensively as long-standing Japanese culture absorbed and mingled with new European culture; we sought the possibilities of new visual expression, rather than just a simple retro look.

Decorative motifs in the styles of Meiji prints color skies fading from dusk into night, hinting at how eras change in gradations of digital data. This single gradation links all five posters that will be dotted around Okazaki.
Each poster uses just two colors. We have tackled the challenge of expressing depth and solidity using the broad range of shading collotype makes possible. Should you see one of these actual posters hanging up, do please give it a closer examination.