Hear from a master of beautiful and precise design in this gallery tour led by Daikoku Daigo, the curator of Pictograms: Iconic Japanese Designs.

The tour explores key themes of the exhibition, including how the groundbreaking Tokyo Olympic sporting pictograms were introduced in 1964 and the vital role pictograms play in society today.    

Daikoku will give insight into how pictograms are conceived, designed and applied to all aspects of everyday life in Japan. The tour also provides a behind-the-scenes look at the curator’s vision, exploring how the exhibition narrative was shaped through the lens of Japanese design history. Questions are encouraged. 

The tour lasts for about 45 minutes.  

The exhibition Pictograms: Iconic Japanese Designs, in the Gallery at Japan House London, runs from 30 July until 9 November 2025.  Please note that filming and photography may take place at this event. Photos and footage of the event may then be used to promote Japan House London, helping more people to discover what we offer. If you have any concerns, please contact us online or contact a member of the team on site.

 

About the Speaker

Daikoku Daigo is a graduate of the Kanazawa College of Art, one of the few public art schools in Japan. He began working at the Nippon Design Center (NDC) in 2003 and established Daikoku Design Institute in 2011. To successfully expand into global markets, he moved to Los Angeles in 2018. At NDC’s LA office (NDCLA), his vision is a global multidisciplinary design studio – one that aggregates diverse experiences and channels them into a holistic, intimate practice.   

Daikoku acknowledges that technology has brought our world closer together but that, barriers still exist. He believes visual communication can help bridge the divide and create a higher social consciousness. Daikoku and his team focus on bringing ideas to life through simple, clear, and bold design, and the serendipity that occurs at the crossroads of culture. Daikoku serves on the board of directors at NDC in Tokyo and is involved with the company’s strategic planning.