On February 23,
2026, we received the news of the passing of graphic designer Kazumasa Nagai.
We offer our deepest condolences and
express our heartfelt gratitude for the kindness he showed us over the years.
The 17th CS Design Award Ceremony,
2012
Comments by Mr. Kazumasa Nagai, Chair of the Judging Committee. International House of Japan (Roppongi)
Mr. Nagai’s connection with Nakagawa Chemical began 43 years ago
, in 1983, when we asked him to serve as a judge for the CS Design Award, a design competition organized by our company.
In 1984, he laid the foundation for the current
framework of the CS Design Award. For the subsequent 31 years, until 2014—
and until the age of 84—he served as a judge for the General Division. Additionally, in 2000, he played a pivotal role in establishing the Student Division.
Without Professor Nagai, the CS Design Award as we know it today would not exist.
Furthermore, Professor Nagai designed every single poster for the CS Design Award—the competition’s symbol—over the past 40 years,
from the 4th edition in 1986 to the present. All
21 works can be viewed via this link.
▶︎ https://www.cs-designaward.jp/nagaiposter/index.html
2025 Poster for the 24th CS Design Award
Unexpectedly, the 40th-anniversary poster became his final work. A small creature
with a lotus flower in its heart. I felt as
though Professor Nagai was conveying the message
that the universe resides within the heart of every living thing.Now that
Professor Nagai has passed away, looking back at this work, this eternal being harboring the
universe within the lotus flower seems just like the professor himself. It feels as though he has shown us
one answer
to the question of “how to live,
” and a flood of emotions wells up within me.
We will continue to cherish and carry forward
the perspective on life and the power of design that he has consistently conveyed.
We express our deepest respect and gratitude for Professor Nagai’s immense contributions,
and we humbly pray for the repose of his soul.
Nakagawa Chemical Co., Ltd.
2012: The 17th CS Design Award. From left: Takenobu Igarashi (Grand Prix Trophy Design), Kazumasa Nagai (Chair of the Judging Committee), Stone Designs (Grand Prix Winner), Yukiya Nakagawa (Chairman of Nakagawa Chemical, then President)
Photo: Toshiko Kikuoka, Yuko
Minaki