Tiger-headed carp and Castle gable

Kinshachi Font is the typeface in which Nagoya culture was reflected in the typeface design. The prototype  was introduced in 2010, the year marking 400 years since the founding of the city of Nagoya as a seat of government. The curved form of the shachihoko tiger-headed carp at the starting point of a stroke is incorporated at the beginning of strokes in the character. While in most typical Mincho typeface elements such as the triangles of the “uroko” are composed out of straight lines, the end of a horizontal stroke in Kinshachi Font features the shape of the curved gables and roofs of Nagoya Castle. In this manner, by curving the “uroko” at both the start and end of a horizontal stroke, a unique rhythm and expression are given to this typeface.

Unprecedented level of decorativeness 

Utilize region-specific cultural resources in the typeface design. This is the basic way of thinking carried out for the City Font Concepts advocated by Type Project. The City Font Concepts are concepts to represent the identity of a city by incorporating the individuality and charm of a city into the font design. While incorporating the cultural resources of Nagoya, Kinshachi Font aimed at a glamorous Mincho typeface with an unprecedented level of decorativeness.The starting point of a Kinshachi Font stroke has a unique shape that incorporates the curved form of the shachihoko tiger-headed carp. In the character 金 (kin / kane: gold, metal, money), the thread of connection from the sixth stroke to the seventh differs distinctly from that in a customary Mincho typeface. 

Ornamental designs similar to curly hair 

Utilizing the originality of kanji, kana, and Latin, respectively, Kinshachi Font Hime is a fresh, challenging, and glamorous font that is harmonized as an overall typeface. It consists of kanji with elements of unique and gorgeous ornamentation, kana with a classical atmosphere modeling graceful *onnade (characters written by women) from the Heian period, and Latin with ornamental designs similar to curly hair. It brings glittery colors that never existed before in the visual representation of Japanese.

*The common name “onnade” is said to originate from the fact that women, who were restricted from using kanji, used hiragana in writing songs and diaries in the Heian period.