Kabuki Syndrome Foundation: Our Name and Logo
UPDATE: Our logo was awarded “Best Visual Identity” at the Transform Awards!
Kabuki Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder first identified and described in 1981 by two Japanese groups, led separately by scientists Norio Niikawa and Yoshikazu Kuroki [1]. Dr. Niikawa named the condition Kabuki make-up syndrome (KMS) due to similarities he noted between his patients’ facial features and the make-up used by dancers in Kabuki, a form of traditional Japanese theater.
Kabuki Syndrome, Formerly Niikawa-Kuroki Syndrome
Kabuki syndrome has been referred to as Niikawa-Kuroki syndrome, KMS, and Kabuki make-up syndrome. As more researchers and clinicians became involved, the shortest name became the most used: Kabuki syndrome.
In order to maintain continuity and hard-earned rare disease recognition, we continue to use this name today while acknowledging its historical foundations.
Kabuki: Song, Dance, Skill
Kabuki translates from Japanese into “the art of dance and skill.”
In modern Japanese, the word is written with three characters: ka, signifying “song”; bu, “dance”; and ki, “skill.”
The Kabuki Syndrome Foundation logo is inspired by the common shared love of music and dance amongst those with Kabuki syndrome. Representative of a person in dance and a blend of colors that symbolize hope and optimism, our dancer personifies the joy we find in the community. It also represents our relentless hope and commitment to improving the lives of people with Kabuki syndrome.