Japan is one of the most distinctive Design Powerhouse in Asia. This article aims to study the translation of Japanese traditional culture in modern Japanese graphic design and explore the characteristics of Japanese artistic style. First of all, through the analysis of the spirit of Japanese traditional culture, we can clarify the factors behind the performance of traditional art in modern Japanese graphic design. Secondly, by analyzing the traditional elements and artistic characteristics of typical Japanese graphic design works, it can be concluded that how modern Japanese graphic design translates traditional art from the three dimensions of form language, color language and artistic conception. Finally, it expounds the cognitive mechanism of traditional culture in Japanese graphic design. Japanese graphic design is both national and cosmopolitan. Its design works are characterized by natural simplicity, harmony and unity. The balance between modern design language and traditional cultural prototype is the key to cultural translation. It can provide reference for other countries to design the development direction of nationalization, through analyzing the translation of traditional art in modern Japanese graphic design.