The 1964 Tokyo Olympics was a pivotal moment in graphic design, particularly due to the introduction of the event's pictograms.
The concept of the Isotype — a visual language conveying meaning through images — was first developed by Otto Neurath in the 1930s, but it had not yet evolved into the modern pictogram format we recognize today.
The set of images designed by Yoshiro Yamashita, under the direction of Masaru Katzumie, were initially called 'silhouette symbols' and marked a major turning point in design. Silhouette symbols, as the name implies, focused on the outline or silhouette of objects, reducing the details to just recognizable shapes and forms. Today, these images are commonly referred to as 'pictograms.'

The pictograms created for the 1964 Games were the first to visually represent Olympic sports in a universally understandable way, transcending language barriers. This was particularly important given that many athletes did not speak Japanese and required a visual means of communication.
Unlike Isotypes, which could convey more complex ideas, Yamashita’s pictograms focused on straightforward, clear images that were easy to interpret at a glance.

The pictograms were part of a larger effort to create a cohesive visual identity for the 1964 Games. Katzumie and Yamashita’s designs featured simple, geometric forms and clear lines, capturing the essence of each sport with minimal abstraction.
This approach was rooted in modernist design principles, emphasizing clarity, functionality, and simplicity. These innovations set a new standard for Olympic visuals and marked a clear departure from the more complex imagery used in previous Games. Katzumie and Yamashita’s work laid the foundation for the streamlined, iconic visual identities seen in future Olympic Games. (ss)