Sankirou: A Symbol of Mojiko’s Golden Age

Mojiko Port in Kitakyushu City has a storied history, having prospered for nearly half a century after being designated a special national export port in 1889. However, following World War II, the opening of the Kanmon Tunnel and the Shinkansen bypassing Moji led to the town’s decline. In recent years, based on the 1987 “Mojiko […]
Reflections on the World Japanese Garden Conference

The World Japanese Garden Conference I attended in Japan this past September was incredibly stimulating. Furthermore, meeting individuals involved in Japanese gardens across the United States, Mexico, China, and Japan is a valuable asset to me. The High Quality of Japanese Garden Creation and Maintenance Ueyakato Landscape in Kyoto is one of Japan’s top-tier landscape […]
Osaka Kansai Expo 2025 Architecture: The Future of Our External Environments

Architecture at the Osaka Kansai Expo 2025 was an experience brimming with creativity and innovation. This visit left a mark on my understanding of how spaces can profoundly impact us, both individually and collectively. It also affirmed my view on how spatial design can support human health and the earth. I am delighted with this […]
Tsubo-niwa and The Tale of Genji

I have not read The Tale of Genji because I am not a big fan of love stories although it is a famous classic novel. But now, I feel ashamed of myself after I knew that the source of the character’s names was gardens. It is because their names came from Tsubo-niwa, a specific type […]
Kenzo Tange’s Own House

I read the interesting book, “The Japanese House Since 1945”, written by Naomi Pollock. It introduces lots of houses designed by architects. In addition to the chronological explanation of the architectural history, unlike other architecture design books, Her book focused on the families who lived in the houses. That made me find unexpected discoveries. I […]


