About Modern Japanese Architecture

Modern Japanese architectural styles began appearing in the late 1800s and then experienced another rapid surge after World War II, when the country rebuilt many of its important government buildings and national landmarks. Many modern Japanese architects struggle with the challenge of finding ways to implement new materials, technology and international trends while still retaining some aspect of distinctly traditional Japanese style.

History

In 1854, Commodore Matthew C. Perry of the United States Navy and the Empire of Japan entered into the Convention of Kanagawa, which opened Japanese ports to U.S. trade ships, and, later, to trade ships from other countries of the Western world. This accelerated the industrialization of Japan and introduced the country's architects to new technology, tools and materials, as well as new styles, which ultimately led the Japanese to build structures that were more Western in look and in construction.

Features

Whereas traditional Japanese architecture included primarily wooden structures, ornate roofs and doors and other adornments, modern Japanese architecture utilizes more Western building techniques, materials and styles. Many more buildings are now comprised of steel and concrete and display an "unadorned box" look, which is in strong contradiction of traditional styles. Buildings that successfully blend both traditional and modern elements may feature Oriental pillars and Japanese tatami mats combined with Western-looking walls, tables and chairs.

Examples

Some good examples of modern Japanese architecture include the Tokyo Train Station, the National Diet Building, the National Gymnasiums for the Tokyo Olympics and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, all of which are in Tokyo, as well as the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art in Kobe and the Umeda Sky Building in Osaka.

Modern Japanese Architects

Ando Tadao is known for his ability to incorporate traditional Japanese gardens or courtyards into many of his designs, as well as for his expert use of windows and natural light. Tange Kenzo, who designed the Yoyogi National Stadium and the National Museums, is famous for his masterful ability to blend his country's traditional architectural styles with the Western world's technological advancements. And two other Japanese architects, Kunio Maekawa and Junzo Sakakura, both studied in France for a while under the famed French architect and artist Le Corbusier, then returned to Japan in the early 1930s and went on to design buildings such as pre-fabricated structures and high-rise apartments that combined traditional details with modern elements.

Considerations

A major architectural problem for the Japanese is the frequency of earthquakes the country experiences. The first earthquake-resistant skyscraper was the Kasumigaseki building, constructed in 1968. Since World War II, the majority of structures in Japan have been built using steel and concrete, rather than a material such as wood, which would easily catch fire in the case of an earthquake or bombing.

Resources

• Japanese Architecture at Asianinfo.org