[Tokyo Zokei University, part of Kuwasawa Educational Foundation] Special lecture by National Printing Bureau arts official to be held on Friday, October 24th Image
URL: Tokyo Zokei University, a Kuwasawa Educational Foundation Press Release: October 17, 2025 Special lecture by a crafts officer from the National Printing Bureau will be held on Friday, October 24th. Security Design of Banknotes and Other Products at the National Printing Bureau The National Printing Bureau will hold a special lecture by a National Printing Bureau arts officer at Tokyo Zokei University (Location: Hachioji, Tokyo / President: Junri Ikushima) on Friday, October 24, 2025, primarily for students majoring in graphic design and other fields. This will be the first time the lecture has been held at the school. [Event details] □Sun/Time: Friday, October 24, 2025 17:00 – 17:50 “Introduction to the National Printing Bureau’s Business and the Work of the Industrial Arts Officer” 17:50-18:10 “Security Design (From Product Completion)” 18:10-18:30 “Introduction to the New Banknotes (Anti-Counterfeiting Technology and Universal Design)” Please note that the content of the lecture may change depending on the progress of the lecture. □Target audience: Tokyo Zokei University students and alumni (open to the public) □Location: Tokyo Zokei University, Building 12, Room 12-201 (1556 Utsunuki-cho, Hachioji, Tokyo) □Access: JR Yokohama Line 5 minutes by school bus from Aihara Station (15 minutes on foot)
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Key Points for Coverage 【Special Exhibition】 □ Please note that some special exhibitions do not allow filming or photography. [Public Lecture] □ Continuous recording or audio recording of the entire lecture is not permitted. □ During the lecture, video recording of materials projected on the screen is prohibited. Still image recording is permitted. [Other/Overall] □ Please refer to the instructor as “National Printing Bureau Art and Design Officer” or “Art and Design Officer.” □ Photographing the Art and Design Officer’s face is prohibited. Please also note that names, etc., cannot be made public. □ Please note that photography of the craftsman’s practice pieces is prohibited. □ Please refrain from taking photographs or other media that may interrupt the special lecture. [Interviews Available] □ Advance application (by 4:00 PM, Tuesday, October 21st) is required for interviews. To apply for coverage, please fill out the necessary information on the coverage application form on the National Printing Bureau website (
https://www.npb.go.jp/aboutweb/contact/hodo.html ) and email it to the National Printing Bureau Public Relations Office (proffice@npb.go.jp) along with the content of your coverage (questions). Please note that coverage requests will not be accepted after the advance application deadline. □ Those who have applied to cover the event will be notified of the meeting place and other contact information. Please note that the National Printing Bureau’s Public Relations Office will provide a pre-lecture briefing (with handouts) to companies that have applied for the special lecture. □Pre-rec Date and time: October 24th (Friday) 16:30-16:50 Venue: Tokyo Zokei University, Building 12, Room 12-201 *Please arrive by 4:20 PM. From the National Printing Bureau The National Printing Bureau’s Special Lectures, which include lectures on the techniques of specialized “Crafts Officers” at art and fine arts universities across Japan, have contributed to the promotion of Japanese culture and the arts. The Special Lectures were awarded the 2024 Commissioner’s Special Award by the Agency for Cultural Affairs in recognition of their contributions to the promotion of Japanese culture and the arts. The Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Special Award is presented by the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs to individuals or organizations with outstanding communication capabilities who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in cultural activities and contributed to the promotion of Japanese culture, or who have contributed to the dissemination of Japanese culture overseas and international cultural exchange. This award to the National Printing Bureau marks the first time that the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs has awarded this award to a national organization, such as a government agency or independent administrative institution, including the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award established in 1989. 【 Overview 】 The National Printing Bureau is an organization that produces Bank of Japan notes, as well as official gazettes, passports, and other products closely related to people’s lives. Founded in 1871 as the Ministry of Finance’s Paper Money Bureau, our organization celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2021, supported by the trust of the public. The National Printing Bureau employs specialized staff known as “Crafts Officers” who possess advanced artistic skills (artistic ability and technical ability). These “Crafts Officers” are responsible for the design and production of master plates for banknotes, passports, and other items that are essential infrastructure for the national economy. Starting in 2022, the National Printing Bureau began offering lectures to students at art and fine art universities in Japan, with the aim of passing on the advanced artistic skills and intricate carvings of these crafts officers to the next generation and contributing to cultural and educational activities. The program will be held at two universities in 2022, six universities in 2023, and four universities and one vocational school in 2024, providing students studying fine arts and design with an opportunity to explore career possibilities and options. The production of original plates for Bank of Japan notes and other items produced by the National Printing Bureau is still primarily done by hand by artisans, who use a special chisel called a burin, which is designed for precise engraving of metal. Mastering the use of a burin requires skill, years of dedication, and perseverance. This lecture will give you an insight into how the National Printing Bureau’s artisans carve intricate lines. Such efforts are essential to maintaining public trust in Bank of Japan notes. They communicate to the public how Japan’s traditional culture has borne fruit as a unique industry. They also serve as a part of our social contribution activities, aiming to raise awareness among the public of the advanced craftsmanship the National Printing Bureau has cultivated over many years, as the manufacturing process at the Bureau serves as a forum for confirming and passing on Japan’s ancient culture and traditional skills. Furthermore, the high quality of the art of the craftsmanship forms the basis for the anti-counterfeiting technology used in manufactured products. Comment from Aya Kodama, Associate Professor, Department of Graphic Design, Tokyo Zokei University In recent years, the perspectives of “security” and “universality” have become increasingly important in the field of design in general. Banknotes (Bank of Japan notes), in particular, incorporate various innovative features that utilize Japan’s cutting-edge technology to prevent counterfeiting and ensure ease of use for the general public. This lecture will feature an expert in the security design of banknotes and securities from the Product Design Group of the Banknote Department of the National Printing Bureau. He will discuss the actual design process and key points to consider, deepening understanding of security design and universal design. About Tokyo Zokei University Founded in 1966, this art university was founded in Hachioji, Tokyo, by fashion designer Yoko Kuwasawa. Design and Beauty We approach art from a broad, comprehensive perspective of “creativity,” and provide an education that fosters students’ individuality through flexible thinking that is not bound by stereotypes.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/111373/22/111373-22-df74e3a1b207d7f52447b0b3422246ae-2717×1865.jpg 〈Contact for this matter〉 Tokyo Zokei University, Planning and Public Relations Department Email: kikaku@zokei.ac.jp 〈Contact Information for the Zokei Officer〉 National Printing Bureau Public Relations Office Tel.03-3587-4210／E-mail：proffice@npb.go.jp
