The Story of Our Logo
Our new, symmetric logo draws inspiration from the Museum’s history and its name, Sannomaru Shozokan. The central diamond symbolizes our collection, and the three circles signify people. Taken together, they represent imperial treasures that have been cherished and protected for centuries. A diamond was chosen for its association with a traditional lattice-like pattern found in architectural elements of the Imperial Palace and the renovated Museum.
The logo is also a visual representation of the museum’s name. The word san-no-maru can be read two ways in Japanese, either meaning “three circles” or “third enclosure.” In the Museum’s name, the term refers to the third bailey of former Edo Castle, where the building now stands. In a play on words, the term is represented by three circles in the new logo. The word shozokan alludes to a now-archaic term for imperial treasure houses and is signified by a diamond. The three circles have yet another meaning. They represent three visitors having a lively conversation next to an artwork, illustrating our hope that the Museum will increase engagement with art and culture for people from all walks of life.