Inside Japanese Fonts: How Designers Shape the Way We Read

At Osaka-based font manufacturer Morisawa, each character is painstakingly crafted by hand. Designers adjust minute spatial balances and optical illusions, ensuring that every letter maintains harmony and legibility. Even tiny adjustments in the thickness of strokes or the curve of a serif can alter the emotional tone of a message.

In recent years, Morisawa has embraced digital innovation with “variable fonts,” which allow users to freely adjust the thickness and shape of letters. These adaptive fonts, such as the “Variable Font Life LUX,” were developed over five and a half years by a small team of designers, combining craftsmanship with modern flexibility. Another innovation is the “UD (Universal Design) Font,” engineered for high legibility. By enlarging diacritical marks and adjusting corner angles, it improves visibility for elderly readers and people with visual strain—enhancing reading speed, comprehension, and even workplace productivity.

Morisawa’s history dates back to 1948, when the company began as a manufacturer of phototypesetting machines. Using glass plates engraved with letters, light was flashed through each character to print them onto photosensitive paper—a method that gave birth to fonts such as A1 Mincho and A1 Gothic. These fonts, with their subtle round edges known as “sumi-dari,” evoke a warmth and familiarity missing from modern digital typefaces, leading to a resurgence of interest in recent years.

In fact, A1 Gothic was recently adopted by the “Yasashii News” program after its design renewal, reflecting its approachable yet professional feel. From analog phototypesetting to variable digital design, Morisawa continues to embody the spirit of Japanese craftsmanship—where even the smallest stroke carries both beauty and meaning, bridging the gap between information and emotion through the art of typography.

Source: Television OSAKA NEWS