Born in Tokyo 1965.
After working at SUN-AD Co. Ltd., established Butterfly Stroke Inc. in 1999. His works spread out in a wide range of fields, from advertisement to graphics and movie works. Representative works include Yomiuri Giants emblem character, Coca-Cola Kuma Cool Summer, FOMA 901i, Giants 1, Fields, wacom FAVO, Han game, and Globe. Aoki is also the producer and director of Kami-Robo, COPET, Hat-tricks, and Yo-cochan. He is well acknowledged for his variety of expression styles, and his fresh and stimulating visuals.
Numerous companies are his clients. COPET exhibition is scheduled in Fukuoka, from Thursday June 8th to Monday July 3rd 2006. Open from 11:00-20:00 at Tenjin Aoyama Book Center Fukuoka 4F ABC gallery. Original t-shirts will be sold.
http://www.butterfly-stroke.com/















What is your name?

Katsunori Aoki

Which country do you wish to represent?

japan

What did you have in mind when creating your T-1 T-shirt design?

What initially came to my mind when I thought of "Japan" was Fujiyama Geisha.
I talked with Abe-san, who produced this design with me, and we wanted something that exists from long ago, and still exists now, from a “Fujiyama Geisha” point of view.
It was just before the Iris Festival of May, so I thought koinobori (carp streamers) may be nice.

What sort of places or situations will best fit your T-shirt design, do you think?

I don't have a specific place in mind, but I would like to think of a family wearing it.
Just like the koinobori song, the father, mother and children side by side.

Has your final T-shirt design turned out the same as you initially imagined it would?

I made detailed variations of the design, some having defined outlines, some not.
In the end, I decided to blend the outline into the t-shirt itself.

When you were designing your T-1 T-shirt, how did the process compare with your normal work?

I thought that the illustration itself already expresses Japan. When you think about being strong and cool, it might be better to design “Japan” in the back, but picturing people actually buying it, I put in the illustration fairly small around the chest. I thought that it would be easier for people to image themselves wearing a simple design like this. (I haven't made my final decision yet. I'm planning to decide when I check the proof.)

Please give your T-shirt a name.

Koinobori 2006

Please give us a message to all the people who visit the website, to spark their interest in your T-shirt.

I hope families wear it.
It would have been nice if there were kid's size…(please consider it in the future)

If there is any music that would best fit your T-shirt design, please let us know.

Koinobori

Is there any strikingly memorable or impressive T-shirt that you remember?

Staff t-shirt for Hiromichi Nakano's collection, which I designed.
Snoopy t-shirts.

What is your favorite food?

Sukiyaki
Fried cutlet

Are there any countries that you'd like to travel, if you had the chance and time?

Berlin
Seoul

Are there any people, things, happenings, that have especially influenced you?

Back to the Future
Baka Kyo-dai

Is there anything that you recommend us to check out? Any items, events, etc?

Theatrical performance

Who would make you most pleased if they were to wear your T-shirt?

I hope families wear it. I'd like to see all the family members wearing it.

If you have any news or information about your recent or upcoming activities, please let us know.

http://www.butterfly-stroke.com/
The website has been renewed. Games are going to be uploaded in the near future, so please check it out every now and then.