Love Japan (Graphics)

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post, just an intro to a brand and some very cool dudes behind it that I feel deserve some attention　このポストはスポンサーくれたことではない。ただ、「いい事だ、これ」と思ったので、初回したいです。　＾＾

 This post is a part of the Show Me Japan project over at Budget Trouble
このポストはBudget TroubleのShow Me Japan参加です～

The other day, I came across this signpost:
先日、これを見つけた：

Thought that dog was real at first.

I didn't stop by then, but got curious and went by some days later to find out more.
その日に行かなかったけど、ちょっと気になったね。
数日後行った、JINGOという店初回頂いた！

What I found was JINGO. Now some of you may know the term, either because you're really posh or because you bothered to look it up when reading Terry Pratchett's book of the same title. For those of you who don't, I'll save you a Google search:

jin·go

noun /ˈjiNGgō/ 
jingoes, plural  

1. A vociferous supporter of policy favoring war, esp. in the name of patriotism

2. A person who boasts of his patriotism and favors an aggressive, threatening, warlike foreign policy; chauvinist.

 

Don't start lining up for your pitchforks and torches quite yet though (or is that only for ogres only?), because that's not what this is all about. The designer gives two reasons for his choice of the name. One is simply that "patriotism" or "love for your country" doesn't have to mean extremist right-wing stance that many people will automatically associate with the word. Especially here in Japan where it can still be a bit of a sensitive subject for many Japanese. In that regard it's similar to Sweden - if you're openly patriotic outside of the sports area, then you obviously must be a neo-nazi. But I digress! Point is, there's positive patriotism and loving your country doesn't exclude loving others as well.

Reason number two is, to summarise, that life is hard and a bit of a battle; don't lose sight of who you are in the midst of it all. 
JINGOのサイトから「JINGOとは英語で「強硬論的愛国主義者」という意味で、漢字の“神護”
には“神さまがいつもおまもりしてくれますように”という願いを込めて
います。」　その名前、もっと詳しくはこちらです。 

As for the logo design, the three stars that appear under the brand name JINGO stand for things that are important in life: "LOVE", "COURAGE" and "HOPE".
あの三つの星の意味は　「愛」、「勇気」と 「希望」です。大事だね、人生に！

The prints are based on traditional motifs and images but with a modern angle, focusing on the theme of "Japan in the world".  
JINGOのサイトから：「デザインのテーマは、世界の中での日本。日本的なモチーフを、「和風」
ではなくより現代的な感覚で表現することで、世界に通用する新しい日本
のデザインに挑戦しています。現在までにモチーフとしているのは、主に
漢字・日の丸・富士山といったものです。」 

There are kanji for the word jingo: 神護　(they're read the same, "jin" and "go"), meaning "deity/God" and "protection", expressing a personal wish for divine protection..

And all of the above is information I've gathered through talking with the staff and designer, reading up on the website and also watching this short video (the last 5-10 minutes feature an interview with JINGO's designer, Hamada-san. There's English subtitles, so well worth checking out!).
But the truth is, although my initial interest was in the print design (because let's face it, they're all really, really cool. My current favourite is this one.) t-shirts (and hoodies and more), the more I talked with both designer and staff member JIMI, the more impressed and inspired and I became with the ideas and people behind the brand.
前の情報は全部ウェブサイトで見つけるね。ビデオインタビューもある、デザイナーと。（最後の5-10分ぐらい。凄く面白い、是非見てね！） 
でもね、最初の興味はデザインだけですけど（ああ、やっぱりでざいにいね。特にこれが好き、今）もっとハマダさんとJIMIさんを話してくれた、もっともっとブランドのアイデアとあの人たちの世紀間感心しました。 

So for me, JINGO's three stars stand for awesomeness of: "Concept", "Design", "People". 
だから、あたしにとって、神護の三つの星の意味は良い：人、コンセプト、デザイン。

JINGO's designer, Hamada-san

They very kindly let me take some shots in the shop, which ended up more artsy than informative. I really love the layout of the store and got distracted by that perhaps. ^^;
ちょっと店の中に写真を撮ってさせてくれたけど、商品はあまり撮りなかった。
なんか、凄く良かったのインテリアの方が撮りやすかった、なんでだろう！
ごめんね！＾＾； 

Pay counter/DJ booth　レジの場所はなんかDJブースみたいな　♪（＾＾）

Where to find them and said awesome stuff? In Shibuya, online and in the US, at L.A.'s Tokyo A Go Go store.　
どこで見つけるかな～
渋谷にあるよ～！　オンラインもオーダーできる！

If you're headed that way, I'm sure they'd appreciate you just dropping by to say 'hi' as well! Or, at least, that's what they've told me and what I've done since and will definitely do again. 

Thank you very much to the peeps at JINGO for letting me do a rather spontaneous write-up and I'll definitely drop by again soon!
本当にありがとうございました！また遊びに行くよ～　（＾－＾）ノ