満ちていく、ココロの恵み 一石卷市一

Rock to Waves to
Flowers to Bloom to
heart we share
together Blessed
岩 と 波 と 花 と 咲く と 心 を 分かち合う と めぐみ

A few months ago, I participated in a Logo design contest. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it past the first round.
But if you live in Ishinomaki, you can still vote for the chosen finalists on this website.

https://www.city.ishinomaki.lg.jp/cont/10051050/citypromotion/logomark/20241105160822.html

I wanted to create a logo that reflected my feelings about the area. I drew inspiration from the people I met, ate, sat, and shared night over night day over day with over the course of our times together.

I moved to Sendai, half a year before the 3.11 earthquake. I was incredibly lucky to have experienced only minor inconveniences compared to many others. This allowed me to detach from the situation in ways that my friends and family couldn’t which I feel very fortunate. Seeing their struggles, witnessing their losses, and observing their journey over the past decade has been incredibly humbling. I wish the world could send them all the best as they moved forward making a life worth living.

I’m happy with the logo I came up with. For me I’d hoped it was a good image and representation I’d hoped help bring interest to the area and people. But I struggled with the Flowers and buds. I never felt completely comfortable with the composition of the flower and bud part of the logo. I wrote a detailed explanation of the logo’s concept below in English and 日本語.

Logo Design Proposal for Ishinomaki City

This logo design represents Ishinomaki City’s rich culture and community spirit while expressing gratitude for the support received after the Great East Japan Earthquake. The design, inspired by the top view of a sushi roll, embodies the concept of a gift—an expression of thanks—and encourages visitors to share in the city’s cultural heritage and culinary delights.

The story unfolds counterclockwise, beginning with the powerful waves of the tsunami that shaped the region. At the center, a fishing boat symbolizes the area’s key industry, with fish flowing into the waves. This imagery transitions seamlessly into the theme of renewal, reflecting the city’s resilience and recovery.

Encircling the scene is a gate atop a mountain, symbolizing the shelters sought during the recovery period and offering a view of the sea. The central circular element highlights a stone, evoking Ishinomaki’s ancient origins as the “rock embraced in the middle of a river.”

The overall design, reminiscent of a sushi roll, emphasizes the idea of sharing a delicious meal, evoking the warmth of a family gathering. It conveys Ishinomaki’s desire to share its rich cultural offerings with visitors. This logo communicates connection, comfort, and gratitude, showcasing Ishinomaki’s open-heartedness and strength while signaling readiness to move forward with renewed purpose.

石巻市ロゴデザイン提案
このロゴデザインは、石巻市の豊かな文化とコミュニティの精神を表現し、東日本大震災後に受けた支援への感謝を示します。巻き寿司の上面を模したデザインは、お土産—感謝の贈り物—の概念を体現し、訪れる人々に市の文化的遺産と美食を共有することを促します。
物語は反時計回りに展開し、地域を形作った力強い津波の波から始まります。中央には漁船が描かれており、地域に結びつく主要な産業を象徴し、波の中には魚が流れ込んでいます。このイメージは、再生のテーマへとスムーズに移行し、都市の回復力と再生を反映します。
シーンを囲むのは山の上の門で、復興時に求められた避難所を象徴し、海の景色を提供します。中央の円形要素は石に焦点を当てており、石巻の古代の起源—「川の真ん中に包まれた岩」を思い起こさせます。
巻き寿司を思わせる全体のデザインは、美味しい食事を共有するというアイデアを強調し、家族の食事のような温かさを反映しています。これは、石巻が訪れる人々にその豊かな文化的な提供を広めたいという願いを表しています。このロゴは、つながり、快適さ、感謝の気持ちを伝え、石巻の開かれた心と力強さを示しながら、再び目的を持って前進する準備が整っていることを示しています。