• World Events

  The Soviet Union collapses. The Gulf War breaks out. Apartheid, the policy of racial segregation in South Africa, is abolished. The bursting of the bubble economy in Japan starts this year. Kiichi Miyazawa is inaugurated as the 78th Prime Minister of Japan in November.

• Graphic Design's Events

  "Best 100 Japanese Posters" (Kodansha), a collection of masterpiece posters produced between 1945 and 1989, is published and an exhibition is held. Following the "Graphic Design Today" exhibition at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, focusing on the works of contemporary designers, the majority of the exhibited works are acquired and become the museum's initial graphic design collection. The cultural value of graphic design is demonstrated to society when, among other things, Yusaku Kamekura becomes the first designer to be designated a Person of Cultural Merits.

• JAGDA New Designer Award

  Kan Akita（b.1958） Satoe Inoue（b.1958） Takuya Onuki（b.1958）

• ADC Grand Prix

  Toppan Printing's "APE CALL FROM TOKYO" Poster

• TDC Grand Prix

  Katsumi Asaba, Exhibition of Katsumi Asaba’s Latest Work

• Media

  The movies "Home Alone" and "Only Yesterday" become big hits. Rie Miyazawa's photo book titled "Santa Fe" shocks society. The world's first website is created, but the Internet as we know it still does not exist. This is the era of PC communications over telephone lines using public bulletin boards that enable people to log in and exchange information with other users.

• Culture

  A large disco in Shibaura known as “Juliana's" opens, and office workers gather there night after night. Sumo wrestler brothers Wakanohana and Takanohana deliver outstanding performances. Jun-ai (pure love) dramas such as "Tokyo Love Story" and “101st Marriage Proposal" become popular, resulting in theme songs that become big hits.

• Japanese Buzzword Award

  …ja ah-rimasenka (isn't that so?) (Japanese comedian Charlie Hama)

• Word of the Year

  mother of all –(ADS)

• Hit Items

  N/A

• Pop Music

  Japanese music KAN: “Ai wa Katsu" (Love Wins) Noriyuki Makihara: "Donna Tokimo" (At All Times) Kyoko Koizumi: “Anata ni Aete Yokatta" (I'm Glad I Met You) CHAGE&ASKA: "Say Yes"

  Western music Guns N' Roses: "You Could Be Mine" R.E.M.: "Losing My Religion” Bryan Adams: "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" Michael Jackson: "Black or White" Nirvana: "Smells Like Teen Spirit"

Notes