Edo and Meiji Logo Encyclopedia – Looking Back at Corporate Marks through Registered Trademarks

Commemorating the 140th anniversary of the trademark registration system—A history and evolution of Japan’s logo marks.

From over 50,000 trademarks of the Edo and Meiji periods, this book carefully selects those with outstanding design, historical significance, and ties to key industries of the time. Each trademark is accompanied by its origin story, industrial trends, and related historical episodes.

Japan’s trademark registration system was established in 1884. Examining the earliest registered trademarks reveals designs rich in Edo aesthetics, featuring family crest motifs, noren symbols, and ukiyo-e influences, commonly used for traditional industries such as medicinal sales, soy sauce, and sake. Over time, these designs merged with the brightness of modern Western styles, evolving into a unique visual identity. Some trademarks even became the prototypes of today’s well-known corporate and product logos, while others have remained nearly unchanged through the years.