Nagoya Grampus is a Japanese professional football club based in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, competing in the J1 League. The club was founded in 1991 as Nagoya Grampus Eight and was renamed to its current name in 2008. The team name derives from two symbols of Nagoya: “Grampus” refers to the shachihoko (orca-like mythical creatures) atop Nagoya Castle, while “Eight” came from the city’s maru-hachi emblem. [1]
Design and History
Nagoya Grampus introduced a new club emblem for the 2024 season, announced on December 10, 2023. This was the club’s first emblem change in 24 years, replacing the previous design that had been in use since 1999. [2] The 1999 emblem featured barbarian red and noble red stripes with the club’s symbol, the shachihoko, and the abbreviation “NGE” (Nagoya Grampus Eight). [3]
The new emblem was developed through the “GRAMPUS SOCIO PROJECT,” a co-creation initiative launched in 2023 that brought together supporters, creative teams, local experts, and club staff. Discussions began in March 2023, and the project involved roughly six months of deliberation and dialogue before the final design was unveiled. [4] The creative team included creative director Rei Iwata of WONDERS Inc., with design work by Takashi Tokuma (bowlgraphics Inc.), Masatsugu Kojima (graff inc.), and Shun Inaba. [5]
The redesign was motivated by the club’s 30th anniversary in 2022 and the need for a design suited to the digital age. The club also established a “Grand Purpose” and “Grampus Family Statement” through the socio project, which served as the conceptual foundation for the new emblem. [3] Alongside the emblem, the club also renewed its club logotype and flag design. [4]
Meaning and Symbolism
The new emblem’s central symbol combines the previous “NGE” initials with an updated depiction of the shachihoko. The rising shape of the symbol expresses an “updraft” (jōshō kiryū), inspired by the supporters’ chant “Kaze” (Wind), which the club identified as a key element of its identity during the socio project discussions. [4] The shield shape conveys the club’s determination to challenge for the top of the world. [2]
Along with the emblem, the club redefined its team colors. The original “Barbarian Red,” established at the club’s founding in 1993, was renamed “Grampus Red.” The club added “Grampus Gold” to represent the vibrancy of Aichi Prefecture, making Grampus Red, Grampus Yellow, and Grampus Gold the three main colors. The previous “Star Orange,” “Noble Red,” and “Legend Yellow” were retained as sub-colors. [4]
Typography and Design
For the 2024 season, the club adopted original name and number fonts for uniforms that incorporate physical characteristics of the orca. The original numbers feature the central symbol from the new emblem, expressing a mentality of fighting without giving up for victory. [5]
Earlier, in January 2017, the club had changed its club logotype, creating a simple original font evolved from the classical font used in the band at the bottom of the emblem. That change emphasized visibility through block lettering and unity with the emblem, while inheriting the tradition of the original ten J.League clubs. [6]
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