The branding of Samurai Japanese Cuisine in Yerevan is based on the brand concept of samurai fish characters ready
to scarify themselves to serve the customers the freshest sushi and other delicious food from Japanese cuisine.
Our objective was to create a new brand identity that would attract new customers, especially young people
and opinion leaders who might be shocked by the identity.
The team came up with the idea of samurai fish who commit hara-kiri to satisfy their Emperors, i.e. their customers.
This unusual Japanese ritual and the peculiarities of Japanese cuisine inspired the designers to create four characters
of self-sacrificing fishes; Tuna, Shrimp, Octopus and the Conger.
A simple typographic solution has been given to the logotype of the brand. A Latin font was stylized to create a visual
connection with Japanese calligraphy and to pass on a taste of Japan.
To emotionally connect with the visitors and communicate the message of self-sacrificing fishes we created stories;
the philosophical thoughts of the master fishes.
Credits
Client: Samurai Japanese Cuisine
Art Director: Varduhi Antonyan
Illustrator: Varduhi Antonyan
Graphic Designer: Haykaz Khroyan
Copywriter: Milena Sarukhanyan
Photographer: Arnos Martirosyan
Being unbelievable fans of sushi, our team knew the importance of impressing customers with unique product packaging. So they designed a special delivery box that contains sushi and rolls, chopsticks, wasabi, gari and soy sauce – a true paradise for sushi lovers.
On other printed materials such as the menu and the business card a fish squama has been used
as another design element of the brand visual identity.
A hand-drawing technique has been used combined with the digital art for illustrating the original characters of samurai fishes.
These philosophical thoughts were also translated into Japanese language and together with the characters’ illustrations found their special spots in the form of canvases on the walls of the restaurant.
There is also a tearoom in the Samurai Japanese Cuisine used for tea ceremonies for which the team of designers created a beautiful illustration inspired by the famous print “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” by the Japanese artist Hokusai. The same illustration was used to create a packaging design of tea
containers to be placed in the tearoom.
