Interbrand sets up second Japan office

The world’s biggest bank started trading in Japan this month with a logo created by local graphic designer Shin Matsunaga.

The Bank of Tokyo and Mitsubishi Bank agreed to merge two years ago and have assets of 475bn.

The identity was unveiled on 1 April, when the new outfit started trading. A spokesman for Matsunaga says of the logo: “The flower design symbolises the image of the rose because it is the flower which is loved most all around the world. The bank hopes to be like that.” The typeface was created by Japan’s biggest advertising agency, Dentsu.

The merger is expected to trigger widespread consolidation in the Japanese financial sector and has the potential to throw up other identity opportunities.

Matsunaga previously worked on the Gitanes Blondes packaging.