Meet Makoto Wada

Makoto Wada in 1966 (Source: Seibundo Shinkosha’s “Idea” Volume 13, No. 75 (1966), Wikipedia)

Makoto Wada (和田誠, April 10, 1936 – October 7, 2019) was an illustrator, graphic designer and book designer. For a short period of time he worked as an ad designer for an agency and even created opening credit sequences. As a freelancer, Wada had a prolific career as an illustrator designing over 2,000 covers for Shukan Bunshun magazine over four decades from 1972 to 2017. He drew illustrations for Mainichi Shimbun from 1992 to 2018. Wada loved film and became a film director in 1984. Wada’s work was on exhibit at the Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery in 2021.

Last year, while searching my images, I stumbled across a picture of the 2000 Setagaya Film Festival cover featuring Makoto Wada’s Godzilla. I forgot how much I loved it and I jumped on Buyee Japan to find a print I could buy. Now a framed print sits on the shelf beside my desk. Since then I’ve been snatching up every Godzilla Wade created. His work can be found in books and magazines, on telephone cards, plastic bags, t-shirts and more. Here is my small Makoto Wada Godzilla art collection.

Who does not love his whimsical and minimalistic style? His Godzilla illustrations have a child-like simplicity and are so charming. His hand-drawn caricatures of Godzilla have life and expressions that make me smile. His beautiful illustrations tell stories like silent films. There is much said without a single word spoken. I just ordered Makoto Wada Exhibition (和田誠展), a 500-page official catalog of Wada’s work that was part of a touring exhibition in 2022. The book covers his work from age 4 to 83. I’m on the lookout for more of samples of Wada’s work. There is so much to learn about his prolific career.