Kazumasa Nagai, a prominent Japanese graphic designer known for creating the symbol mark for the Sapporo Winter Olympics, passed away on February 23 at the age of 96 from acute respiratory failure. Following his death, a private funeral was held for close relatives, with a farewell gathering planned for a later date. Nagai’s son, Kazufumi, took on the role of chief mourner during this time of loss.

Born in Osaka, Nagai was a key figure in post-war Japanese graphic design, co-founding the Japan Design Center in 1960 alongside notable designers such as Yusaku Kamekura and Ikko Tanaka. He became the president of the center in 1975 and continued to serve as a senior advisor until his death. His work is characterized by abstract geometric shapes and color arrangements, crafting corporate identities for major companies including Asahi Beer and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, while also maintaining a passion for producing concrete visual pieces such as the 'LIFE' series of posters throughout his later years.

Nagai significantly contributed to the foundation of Japan’s graphic design landscape, having held positions such as the president of the Japan Graphic Designers Association (JAGDA) and chairman of the Japan Design Committee. Notably, he served as the representative judge during the controversial emblem selection process for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where the original selected design was retracted. His legacy lives on through his diverse body of work, including the publication 'Kazumasa Nagai Design Life.'