MIKIMOTO is a Japanese high-jewellery house founded by Kokichi Mikimoto, who in 1893 became the first person in the world to successfully culture pearls. The brand’s visual identity has undergone at least two documented phases: a 1981 wordmark credited to two designers, and a 2017 refresh handled by Japan’s Nippon Design Center.
Design and History
The 1981 MIKIMOTO logo is documented in the design reference book International Logotypes, which credits the mark to Kuniharu Masubuchi and Hiroshi Iseya for Mikimoto Co., Ltd., dated 1981 (Japan).[1] A Taiwanese trademark record confirms that a “MIKIMOTO & DEVICE” mark in black was filed on May 21, 1981, and registered on January 16, 1982.[2]
In 2017, MIKIMOTO renewed its logo. The current mark was designed by Nippon Design Center, Japan’s leading advertising production company.[3] The redesign was led by Kenya Hara, who serves as representative director of Nippon Design Center.[4]
Meaning and Symbolism
The 2017 logo consists of the brand name “MIKIMOTO” set in a serif typeface, with the letter “M” serving as the brand’s initial. The “O” in the wordmark is rendered as a circle resembling a pearl, positioned above the “M”.[5] The previous logo featured a three-dimensional stone-like element as a background behind a large “M”. The new mark removed that background element entirely.[5]
Nippon Design Center’s project description states that the logo and packaging were designed to maintain the image of an international jeweller while establishing a brand identity centred on pearls. The logo combines the elegance of Roman lettering with a modern, distinctive character.[6]
Typography and Design
The 2017 wordmark uses a clean, modern serif typeface with varying stroke weights and sharp terminal details.[5] The design follows Kenya Hara’s characteristic minimalist approach, using white space to draw attention to the product itself.[7]
Beyond the logo itself, the 2017 identity programme extended to packaging. Nippon Design Center created wrapping paper printed with a water-surface pattern inspired by the shimmer of Ago Bay, where Kokichi Mikimoto conducted his pioneering pearl cultivation work. The paper uses mica-infused stock to achieve a subtle sparkle.[8]
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