In 1964, 10-year old Kengo Kuma visited Tokyo and stood in awe of the swooping, concrete Olympic stadiums designed by Kenzo Tange. These megalithic forms, which spiral off the ground in simultaneous expression and defiance of physics, captured the energy of rapidly industrializing Japan and inspired Kuma to become an...
Last time I visited Kyoto I had the pleasure of receiving a tour of a newly renovated machiya turned into Airbnb by the architect Seiichi Takeuchi (@schrtkch on Instagram). Takeuchi-san has worked under star architect Ando Tadao for many years and has recently established his own practice in Osaka. Attracted...
Zaborin is a luxury ryokan of 15 villas, located in the rapidly expanding ski resort town of Niseko, Hokkaido. It’s one of those places that has made every possible “best of” list, from Michelin Guides to Conde Nast Traveler to Architectural Digest. The onsen on site has earned attention for...
When Rika Yajima was only 19 years old, she began to get curious about Japanese craftsmanship. She wanted to get to know the traditions of the preindustrial past, when the handmade goods were central to Japanese culture. The adults in her life – the generation above her own – were...
“No experience is too lowly to be taken up in ritual and given a lofty meaning,” writes Mary Douglas in Purity & Danger, a book that attempts to make sense of all the forms and meanings of dirt and disorder in our lives. For Japanese company Inax, the rituals of...
Karimoku New Standard has harnessed the pure energy and expertise of woodworking to produce experimental new designs that are interesting without being excessive. Launched in 2009, KNS is the daughter company of Karimoku Furniture, a manufacturer with origins in Aichi prefecture. From modest beginnings in 1940 Karimoku expanded into a...
Past March a new organic donut shop Koe Donuts opened its doors that immediately caught my eye due to its high quality design starting from the branding through to it’s interior design. No surprise when I found out that the creative team behind it included star architect Kuma Kengo, award-winning...
Kagoshima is not an easy place to build considering the many natural factors such as occasional volcanic eruptions, strong winds during typhoon season as well as the strong summer sun that need to be considered. This house designed by Yanase Architects solves for the many challenges with a beautiful deep...
Sanwa is a Japanese company that aims to challenge our preconceived notions about the “creation” of style. They design and sell most anything and everything related to the realm of home interior and exterior. Their website is a refreshingly navigable catalog, although slightly intimidating in its array of products (storage...
At this year’s Milan Design Week, the Spanish fashion label Loewe’s annual showcase of global craftsmanship veered into a world as yet unexplored by most luxury brands, that is, the world of woven baskets. Loewe issued a challenge to master weavers around the globe: use leather, and create something new....
The Miho Museum is a modern museum with a mystifying history. Nestled in the mountains of Shigaraki southeast of Kyoto (an area traditionally known for its ceramic kilns), it was founded by Mihoko Koyama, who believed that works of art have spiritual energy. Mihoko was the originator of Shinji Shumeikai,...
There are many challenges when building in Japans dense cities. Two that make it to the top of the list is to maintain privacy while letting in enough natural light and creating outdoor spaces within those restrictions that create pleasant views. Arbol Architects is a architecture firm in Osaka that...
