◆Historic Japanese Public Architecture of the Modern Era◆
Japan began to modernize in the second half of the 19th century, when public architecture all over the country came to be constructed mainly in the Western style. Together with these efforts, the government began training architectural specialists, including modern architects such as TATSUNO Kingo, who went on to design Tokyo Station. This led to the construction of many full-scale Western-style public architecture designed by Japanese architects. After World War II, a succession of architects emerged in Japan to lead the worldwide architectural trends of modernism and postmodernism, and they have continued to do so to this day. Today, Japan receives a distinguished global reputation in the field of architecture. As of the end of 2024, Japan had the most winners of the Pritzker Architecture Prize (considered the “Nobel Prize of architecture”) of any country — TANGE Kenzo being just one notable example. In this month’s HIGHLIGHTING Japan, an expert in architectural history explains the history of public architecture development in modern-era Japan and its appeal. This issue also introduces various public architecture that represent Japan’s architecture of the modern era, including Tokyo Station, which celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2024; the Kagawa Prefectural Office East Building, a representative work by TANGE Kenzo; and the Grand Roof (Ring), the symbol of the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, which will be held from April 2025.
●Past and Future of Public Architecture in Japan: Postmodern History (Interview with KURAKATA Shunsuke, a professor at Osaka Metropolitan University)
●A Rare Stone Building Representing the Progress of Architectural Modernization in Japan (Introducing the Sapporo Shiryokan, built based on the Renaissance style in 1926 for the Sapporo Court of Appeals; used today as an archival facility)
●Masterpiece of Architecture in Early Era of Japan’s modernization: The Old Saiseikan Hospital Building (Introducing the Old Saiseikan Hospital Building in Yamagata City, considered a masterpiece of Gi-yofu architecture (a style imitating Western architecture); completed in 1878)
●Tokyo Station, one of Japan’s largest European-style architecture in the modern era, celebrated its 110th anniversary (Introducing Tokyo Station, designed by the father of Japan’s modern era architecture, TATSUNO Kingo; opened in 1914)
●Uniting Tradition and Innovation: 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa (Introducing the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, designed by SANAA; opened in 2004 in the center of Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture)
●One of the World’s Largest Wooden Structures: The ‘Grand Roof (Ring)’ at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan (Introducing to the Grand Ring, the world’s largest wooden structure and a symbol of EXPO 2025 OSAKA, KANSAI, JAPAN site; opens in April 2025)
●Iconic Work of Renowned Architect TANGE Kenzo: Kagawa Prefectural Government Office East Building (Introducing the Kagawa Prefectural Government Office East Building, one of the best-known works of architect TANGE Kenzo; completed in 1958)
●Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art, Known as the ‘Binoculars on the Hill’ (Introducing the Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art, one of the best-known works of ISOZAKI Arata, a leader in postmodern architecture; opened in 1974)
■POLICY-RELATED NEWS (Starting Soon! Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan: “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”)
■DISCOVERING JAPAN THROUGH THE EYES OF JAPANESE INFLUENCERS (The Many Ways to Enjoy the Charms of Kimono)
■TREASURES OF JAPANESE CULTURE (Sweet Treats Unique to Japan, Recommended by an Italian Food Writer)
■BACK COVER THE BEAUTY OF JAPANESE SWORDS (Decorative sword, mountings with mother-of-pearl inlay on polished lacquered gold and gold ornaments)
※Please send your comments and requests to the Public Relations Office, Government of Japan. Your input will help us make this webpage / products better.
https://www.gov-online.go.jp/en/form/mailform/
[E-mail Newsletter " HIGHLIGHTING Japan"]
** This e-mail address is for delivery only and is not monitored. Please do not reply to this e-mail.
Published by: Public Relations Office, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan 1-6-1 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8914, Japan
https://www.gov-online.go.jp/hlj/en/
VOL. 200 (FEBRUARY 2025)
◆Historic Japanese Public Architecture of the Modern Era◆
Japan began to modernize in the second half of the 19th century, when public architecture all over the country came to be constructed mainly in the Western style. Together with these efforts, the government began training architectural specialists, including modern architects such as TATSUNO Kingo, who went on to design Tokyo Station. This led to the construction of many full-scale Western-style public architecture designed by Japanese architects. After World War II, a succession of architects emerged in Japan to lead the worldwide architectural trends of modernism and postmodernism, and they have continued to do so to this day.
Today, Japan receives a distinguished global reputation in the field of architecture. As of the end of 2024, Japan had the most winners of the Pritzker Architecture Prize (considered the “Nobel Prize of architecture”) of any country — TANGE Kenzo being just one notable example.
In this month’s HIGHLIGHTING Japan, an expert in architectural history explains the history of public architecture development in modern-era Japan and its appeal. This issue also introduces various public architecture that represent Japan’s architecture of the modern era, including Tokyo Station, which celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2024; the Kagawa Prefectural Office East Building, a representative work by TANGE Kenzo; and the Grand Roof (Ring), the symbol of the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, which will be held from April 2025.
●Past and Future of Public Architecture in Japan: Postmodern History
(Interview with KURAKATA Shunsuke, a professor at Osaka Metropolitan University)
●A Rare Stone Building Representing the Progress of Architectural Modernization in Japan
(Introducing the Sapporo Shiryokan, built based on the Renaissance style in 1926 for the Sapporo Court of Appeals; used today as an archival facility)
●Masterpiece of Architecture in Early Era of Japan’s modernization: The Old Saiseikan Hospital Building
(Introducing the Old Saiseikan Hospital Building in Yamagata City, considered a masterpiece of Gi-yofu architecture (a style imitating Western architecture); completed in 1878)
●Tokyo Station, one of Japan’s largest European-style architecture in the modern era, celebrated its 110th anniversary
(Introducing Tokyo Station, designed by the father of Japan’s modern era architecture, TATSUNO Kingo; opened in 1914)
●Uniting Tradition and Innovation: 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
(Introducing the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, designed by SANAA; opened in 2004 in the center of Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture)
●One of the World’s Largest Wooden Structures: The ‘Grand Roof (Ring)’ at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
(Introducing to the Grand Ring, the world’s largest wooden structure and a symbol of EXPO 2025 OSAKA, KANSAI, JAPAN site; opens in April 2025)
●Iconic Work of Renowned Architect TANGE Kenzo: Kagawa Prefectural Government Office East Building
(Introducing the Kagawa Prefectural Government Office East Building, one of the best-known works of architect TANGE Kenzo; completed in 1958)
●Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art, Known as the ‘Binoculars on the Hill’
(Introducing the Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art, one of the best-known works of ISOZAKI Arata, a leader in postmodern architecture; opened in 1974)
■POLICY-RELATED NEWS
(Starting Soon! Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan: “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”)
■DISCOVERING JAPAN THROUGH THE EYES OF JAPANESE INFLUENCERS
(The Many Ways to Enjoy the Charms of Kimono)
■TREASURES OF JAPANESE CULTURE
(Sweet Treats Unique to Japan, Recommended by an Italian Food Writer)
■BACK COVER
THE BEAUTY OF JAPANESE SWORDS
(Decorative sword, mountings with mother-of-pearl inlay on polished lacquered gold and gold ornaments)
https://www.gov-online.go.jp/hlj/en/february_2025/
※Please send your comments and requests to the Public Relations Office, Government of Japan. Your input will help us make this webpage / products better.
https://www.gov-online.go.jp/en/form/mailform/
[E-mail Newsletter " HIGHLIGHTING Japan"]
** This e-mail address is for delivery only and is not monitored.
Please do not reply to this e-mail.
Published by:
Public Relations Office, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan
1-6-1 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8914, Japan