The 88th episode of the NHK Asadora drama series "Anpan " (General TV, Monday to Saturday 8:00 AM and others), starring Mio Imada , was broadcast on July 30th, and featured a historical episode in which Takashi Yanase , the model for the character Taka ( Takumi Kitamura ), wrote letters on department store wrapping paper, which became a hot topic among viewers.
After getting a job in the advertising department of Samsung Department Store, Taka is unexpectedly successful and is praised by Department Head Degawa (Odai Ryohei), who says, "Wow, Yanai-kun, you're still as quick at your work as ever."
Degawa explained that the Samsung Department Store had purchased new wrapping paper and had asked Shoichiro Inomata, a star in the Western painting world, to design it, and instructed Taka to go to Inomata's home in Denenchofu to pick up the design.
When Taka brought the design back, Degawa was taken aback by the original drawing, which was simply red paper pasted on white paper, and asked, "What is this? Is this really Inomata-sensei's design?" Taka explained, "I was told to write the characters 'Mitsuboshi' here. The location was also specified, here," and said, "I thought this simplicity was fresh and good." Degawa asked, "Then you write it," and Taka wrote "mitsuboshi" in cursive on the wrapping paper.
In fact, Yanase moved to Tokyo in 1947 (Showa 22) and joined Mitsukoshi, where he worked in the advertising department. In 1950 (Showa 25), Western-style painter Genichiro Inokuma designed Mitsukoshi's wrapping paper, "Hana Hiraku," which is still in use today. Yanase wrote the word "mitsukoshi" in cursive.
Comments on social media included, "Here comes the famous story!!" "I didn't know Takashi Yanase designed the Mitsukoshi logo! It's amazing that it hasn't changed since 1950!" "The design is complete with letters, it's amazing!" "It makes me look at Mitsukoshi wrapping paper in a different way," and "What a casual and wonderful sense, as expected."
