Mitsubishi Electric Logo PNG
Mitsubishi Electric is the name of one of the world’s leading corporations, specializing in electrical equipment development and production. The corporation was established in 1921 in Japan.
Meaning and history
The Mitsubishi Electric visual identity is one of the most recognizable across the globe. The name of the company, Mitsubishi, can be translated from Japanese as “three diamonds” and the company’s logo is a perfect graphical representation of the name’s meaning.
The iconic emblem has a huge heritage, as was created based on the old crests of the company’s founder city of birth and the family he worked for.
1955 – 1964
The original wordmark didn’t give any hint at the global ambitions the Tokyo-based company probably already had back then. There was just a succession of Japanese hieroglyphs that could only work for the local market. It also didn’t seem memorable enough to be a real working logotype. The typeface, which is called Mitarashi-ryu, was in use until 1963.
1964 – 1968
The roots of the iconic three-diamond emblem can be traced back to the 19th century, but it was only in 1964 that Mitsubishi Electric adopted it in the current form. The predecessor of Mitsubishi, the shipping company Tsukumo Shokai, had a triangular emblem in the 1870s, which was inspired by the water chestnut. The very word “Mitsubishi” is a combination of “mitsu” (meaning “three”) and hishi (“water chestnut”). Also, in Japan, this word refers to a rhombus or diamond.
In this version of the logo, the three diamonds were placed between two lines of Japanese hieroglyphs representing the name of the company and its slogan “with you today and tomorrow.” The slogan was only used on the local market.
1968 – 1985 (Japan)
The updated logo reflects the new slogan, “Advanced and Ever Advancing.” As the company’s CEO, President Okubo, explained, the motto was created with the aim of “cementing” Mitsubishi’s position in the future industry through its technical expertise.
1968 – 1985 (International)
In addition to the domestic logo, an international version was introduced. Its structure was the same: the emblem moved to the left, while the lettering was in the right part of the logo and was given in two lines. In the international version, the logo and the company name were given in English.
1985 – 2014 (Japan)
The company introduced two completely different versions of its logo, one for the Japanese market and the other for the global market. The reason behind this decision was the desire to make Mitsubishi Electric stand out among other companies of the Mitsubishi Group in Japan. The brand even adopted a separate slogan used only inside the country.
1985 – 2001 (International)
The international logo preserved the three-diamond emblem. However, the typographic part of the design was updated. It now looked by far more minimalistic, with just the word “MITSUBISHI” left. The typeface was the same as in the local logo and as in the previous version. Yet, due to the larger size, the company name became much more legible.
2001 – Today (International), 2014 – Today (Japan)
The three red diamonds, forming a triangle are accompanied by a simple modern wordmark.
The “Mitsubishi Electric” inscription in all the capital letters is written in a strict and strong sans-serif typeface and is placed on two levels. The font is perfectly balanced and spaced and makes the logo look complete and harmonized.
The red and black color palette of the Mitsubishi Electric visual identity is a reflection of power, eternal energy, and progress. The company is one of the world’s leaders in its field and the Mitsubishi Electric logo shows it as strong and professional.
