Sans Normal Koken 5 is a bold, narrow, low contrast, italic, normal x-height font visually similar to 'Dexa Pro' by Artegra, 'Apercu Condensed' by Colophon Foundry, 'Hegval Display' by Inhouse Type, 'Avenir Next Paneuropean' by Linotype, 'Sharp Sans Condensed' by Monotype, 'TT Commons™️ Pro' by TypeType, and 'Nu Sans' by Typecalism Foundryline (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: headlines, posters, sports branding, packaging, app headers, sporty, urgent, modern, assertive, dynamic, impact, speed, attention, modernity, promotion, slanted, compact, round, smooth, high-impact.
A compact, forward-leaning sans with thick, even strokes and rounded curves. The letterforms are tightly proportioned with narrow widths and a brisk rhythm, keeping counters relatively small and shapes firmly filled. Curves are smooth and circular in character, while terminals read clean and undecorated, giving the face a streamlined, contemporary look. Numerals match the heavy, slanted build and maintain consistent visual weight alongside the uppercase and lowercase.
Best suited to display roles where a forceful, fast-moving voice is helpful—headlines, poster typography, sports or event branding, packaging callouts, and prominent UI or app headers. It can also work for short emphatic subheads or quotes, but the dense color and slant favor larger sizes over long-form reading.
The strong slant and dense color create a sense of motion and immediacy, projecting confidence and speed. It feels energetic and promotional, with a tone that suits modern, high-tempo messaging rather than quiet, literary settings.
The design appears intended to deliver an emphatic, forward-driving sans voice with compact proportions and a strong italic posture, optimizing for impact and momentum in contemporary layouts.
The overall texture is dark and continuous, with minimal stroke modulation and a clear emphasis on punchy silhouettes. The italic angle is prominent enough to signal movement even at larger sizes, and the compact widths encourage tight, impactful line breaks.