A brief history of the introduction of Japanese architecture via design magazines and the future significance of the Japan Architectural Review

Abstract

List of architectural magazines published in Japan Japanese reign names Year founded Final year Title of magazine (Translation) Publisher Text Language Location Coverage Figure Japanese English Japan Int'l Displayed Meiji era: 1868-1912 1881 1884→ Kogaku-Soshi (Journal of the Engineering Society) Yushodo-Shoten ○ - - - 1884 1921 Kogaku-Kwai-shi (Journal of the Engineering Society) Kogakukai (Federation of Engineering Societies) ○ × ○ ○ A 1887 Existing Journal of Architecture and Building Science Architectural Institute of Japan ○ × ○ ○ B-D 1900 1975 Kentiku (Architecture) Seidoh-sha (after June 1961) ○ × ○ ○ E Taisho era: 1912-1926 1907 1944 Kentiku Sekai (Architectural World) Kenchiku Sekai, Inc. ○ × ○ × F Showa era: 1926-1989 1925 1927→ Kokusaikentiku-Jiron (International Architecture) kokusai-kentiku-Kyokai ○ × ○ ○ 1925 Existing Shinkentiku→Shinkenchiku (Japan Architect) Shinkenchiku-sha Co., Ltd. ○ × ○ ○ G-I Great Kanto Earthquake: 1923 1928 1967 Kokusaikentiku (International Architecture) BIJUTSU SHUPPAN-SHA Ltd. ○ × ○ ○ J-M WW II - 1941-45 1946 2004 Kenchiku Bunka (Architectural Culture) SHOKOKUSHA Publishing Co., Ltd. ○ × ○ × N 1946 1988 Shinjutaku Shinjutakusha ○ × ○ × 1946 Existing Kindai Kenchiku (Contemporary Architecture of the World) KINDAIKENCHIKU-SHA Co., Ltd. ○ × ○ ▵ 1950 Existing Kenchiku Gijutsu (Kenchiku Gijutsu) Kenchikugijutsu, Inc. ○ × ○ × O 1951 Existing Modern Living HEARST FUJINGAHO ○ × ○ ○ P, Q 1955 2006 Shitsunai (The Magazine of Interior Design) KOUSAKUSHA ○ × ○ × 1956 1991→ JA (Japan Architect) monthly Shinkenchiku-sha Co., Ltd. × ○ ○ × R-V 1956 Existing Shoten Kenchiku (Store Design/Interior/Architecture) SHOTENKENCHIKU-SHA Publishing Co., Ltd. ○ × ○ × 1958 Existing Kenchiku-Chishiki (Architectural Knowledge) X-knowledge Co., Ltd. ○ × ○ × 1958 Existing Kateigaho International Japan Edition SEKAI BUNKA PUBLISHING INC. ○ ○ ○ × Tokyo Olympic Games 1964 1964 Existing DETAIL SHOKOKUSHA Publishing Co., Ltd. ○ × ○ × 1964 Existing SD (Space Deign) Kajima Institute Publishing Co., Ltd. ○ × ○ ○ 1966 Existing Kenchiku Gahou (Visual Architecture) Kenchiku Gahou Inc. ○ × ○ × 1968 1986 Toshi Jutaku Kajima Institute Publishing Co., Ltd. ○ × ○ ○ Osaka World Fair 1970 1970 1999 GA (Global Architecture) A.D.A.EDITA Tokyo ○ ○ × ○ W, X 1971 Existing a+u (Architecture and Urbanism) A+U Publishing Co., Ltd., Shinkenchiku-sha ○ ○ × ○ Y, Z 1975 Existing Jutaku Kenchiku (a monthly journal for home builders and designers) Kenchiku Shiryo Kenkyusha Co., Ltd. ○ × ○ × 1976 Existing GA Houses A.D.A.EDITA Tokyo ○ ○ ○ ○ 1976 Existing Nikkei Architecture Nikkei Business Publications,Inc. ○ × ○ × 1980 Existing GA Document A.D.A.EDITA Tokyo ○ ○ ○ ○ 1985 Existing JT / Jutaku Tokushu Shinkenchiku-sha Co., Ltd. ○ × ○ × Heisei era: 1989 - current 1991 Existing JA (Japan Architect) quarterly Shinkenchiku-sha Co., Ltd. ○ ○ ○ × 1992 Existing GA Japan A.D.A.EDITA Tokyo ○ ○ ○ × 1994 2008 10+1 (Ten Plus One) LIXIL Corporation ○ × ○ ○ 2000 Existing 10+1 web site LIXIL Corporation ○ × ○ ○ Since the Meiji Restoration of 1868 architectural education in Japan was for the first time influenced by European and American design practice and its architects. The first architectural magazine, “Kogakusosho (Engineering Book)” was released in 1881, followed by the “Journal of Architecture and Building Science” published by the predecessor of the AIJ from 1887; “Kentiku (Architecture)” was published in 1900, and “Kentiku-Sekai (Architectural World)” was published in 1907. (A) Kogaku-Kwai-shi, 1890, cover; (B) Journal of Architecture and Building Science, 1889, cover; (C) Journal of Architecture and Building Science, 1889, pp. 2, 3; (D) Journal of Architecture and Building Science, 1951, cover (from Shoji HAYASHI Library: SHL); (E) Kentiku, November 1962, cover (from SHL); (F) Kentiku-Sekai, June 1937, cover; (G) Sinkentiku, August 1934, cover (from SHL); (H) Sinkentiku, August 1934, contents (from SHL); (I) Sinkentiku, August 1934, article, p. 117 (from SHL); (J) Kokusaikentiku, April 1951, cover (from SHL); (K) Kokusaikentiku, April 1951, contents (from SHL); (L) Kokusaikentiku, November, 1955, cover; (M) Kokusaikentiku, November, 1955, Hodgson House, Philip Johnson, pp. 20, 21; (N) Kenchiku-Bunka, December, 1948, cover (from SHL); (O) Kenchiku-Gijutsu, July 1950, cover (from Kenchiku-Gijutsu Library); (P) Modern Living, December, 1948, cover (from SHL); (Q) Modern Living, May 1957, cover (from SHL); (R) JA, June 1959, cover; (S) JA, Feburuary 1963, cover; (T) JA, November-December, 1983, cover; (U) JA, article: “After Modernism” A Dialogue between Kenzo TANGE and Kazuo SHINOHARA, November-December, 1983, p. 7; (V) JA, May 1988, cover; (W) GA, May 1988, cover; (X) GA, May 1988, cover; (Y) a+u, January 1970, cover; (Z) a+u, January 1970, contents. “Shinkenchiku,” in particular, has proven the most influential architectural magazine in the professional milieu over the long term, having covered all categories of architecture, including individual dwellings which are typical of Japanese architecture, of interest to broader Japanese architectural society.

Japan Architectural Review was first issued in January 2018, under the chiefeditorship of Shin-ichi Tanabe. This journal, a peer-reviewed academic publication of the Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ), covers virtually all branches of architectural design and building practice. Physical distances from Europe and America and the existence of “a wall called Japanese” has all too frequently colored cultural interchange between foreign countries at the easternmost end of Asia and their Western counterparts. I would like to discuss the importance of disseminating information on Japanese architecture to other countries by looking over the publication history of architectural magazines in Japan from the Meiji era (Table ).

List of architectural magazines published in Japan

Japanese reign names	Year founded	Final year	Title of magazine (Translation)	Publisher	Text Language		Location Coverage		Figure
					Japanese	English	Japan	Int'l	Displayed
Meiji era: 1868-1912	1881	1884→	Kogaku-Soshi (Journal of the Engineering Society)	Yushodo-Shoten	○	-	-	-
	1884	1921	Kogaku-Kwai-shi (Journal of the Engineering Society)	Kogakukai (Federation of Engineering Societies)	○	×	○	○	A
	1887	Existing	Journal of Architecture and Building Science	Architectural Institute of Japan	○	×	○	○	B-D
	1900	1975	Kentiku (Architecture)	Seidoh-sha (after June 1961)	○	×	○	○	E
Taisho era: 1912-1926	1907	1944	Kentiku Sekai (Architectural World)	Kenchiku Sekai, Inc.	○	×	○	×	F
Showa era: 1926-1989	1925	1927→	Kokusaikentiku-Jiron (International Architecture)	kokusai-kentiku-Kyokai	○	×	○	○
	1925	Existing	Shinkentiku→Shinkenchiku (Japan Architect)	Shinkenchiku-sha Co., Ltd.	○	×	○	○	G-I
Great Kanto Earthquake: 1923	1928	1967	Kokusaikentiku (International Architecture)	BIJUTSU SHUPPAN-SHA Ltd.	○	×	○	○	J-M
WW II - 1941-45	1946	2004	Kenchiku Bunka (Architectural Culture)	SHOKOKUSHA Publishing Co., Ltd.	○	×	○	×	N
	1946	1988	Shinjutaku	Shinjutakusha	○	×	○	×
	1946	Existing	Kindai Kenchiku (Contemporary Architecture of the World)	KINDAIKENCHIKU-SHA Co., Ltd.	○	×	○	▵
	1950	Existing	Kenchiku Gijutsu (Kenchiku Gijutsu)	Kenchikugijutsu, Inc.	○	×	○	×	O
	1951	Existing	Modern Living	HEARST FUJINGAHO	○	×	○	○	P, Q
	1955	2006	Shitsunai (The Magazine of Interior Design)	KOUSAKUSHA	○	×	○	×
	1956	1991→	JA (Japan Architect) monthly	Shinkenchiku-sha Co., Ltd.	×	○	○	×	R-V
	1956	Existing	Shoten Kenchiku (Store Design/Interior/Architecture)	SHOTENKENCHIKU-SHA Publishing Co., Ltd.	○	×	○	×
	1958	Existing	Kenchiku-Chishiki (Architectural Knowledge)	X-knowledge Co., Ltd.	○	×	○	×
	1958	Existing	Kateigaho International Japan Edition	SEKAI BUNKA PUBLISHING INC.	○	○	○	×
Tokyo Olympic Games 1964	1964	Existing	DETAIL	SHOKOKUSHA Publishing Co., Ltd.	○	×	○	×
	1964	Existing	SD (Space Deign)	Kajima Institute Publishing Co., Ltd.	○	×	○	○
	1966	Existing	Kenchiku Gahou (Visual Architecture)	Kenchiku Gahou Inc.	○	×	○	×
	1968	1986	Toshi Jutaku	Kajima Institute Publishing Co., Ltd.	○	×	○	○
Osaka World Fair 1970	1970	1999	GA (Global Architecture)	A.D.A.EDITA Tokyo	○	○	×	○	W, X
	1971	Existing	a+u (Architecture and Urbanism)	A+U Publishing Co., Ltd., Shinkenchiku-sha	○	○	×	○	Y, Z
	1975	Existing	Jutaku Kenchiku (a monthly journal for home builders and designers)	Kenchiku Shiryo Kenkyusha Co., Ltd.	○	×	○	×
	1976	Existing	GA Houses	A.D.A.EDITA Tokyo	○	○	○	○
	1976	Existing	Nikkei Architecture	Nikkei Business Publications,Inc.	○	×	○	×
	1980	Existing	GA Document	A.D.A.EDITA Tokyo	○	○	○	○
	1985	Existing	JT / Jutaku Tokushu	Shinkenchiku-sha Co., Ltd.	○	×	○	×
Heisei era: 1989 - current	1991	Existing	JA (Japan Architect) quarterly	Shinkenchiku-sha Co., Ltd.	○	○	○	×
	1992	Existing	GA Japan	A.D.A.EDITA Tokyo	○	○	○	×
	1994	2008	10+1 (Ten Plus One)	LIXIL Corporation	○	×	○	○
	2000	Existing	10+1 web site	LIXIL Corporation	○	×	○	○

Since the Meiji Restoration of 1868 architectural education in Japan was for the first time influenced by European and American design practice and its architects. It is well-known that the British architect Josiah Conder (1852-1920) was invited to join the Department of Residential Construction (formerly, the Department of Architecture) in 1877, and hands-on professional training came to be provided in earnest at what is today University of Tokyo. A number of prominent architects, such as Kingo TATSUNO (the first Japanese to open an architectural practice) and Tokuma KATAYAMA (architect to the Crown) graduated from the school.

The first architectural magazine, “Kogakusosho (Engineering Book)” was released in 1881, followed by the “Journal of Architecture and Building Science” published by the predecessor of the AIJ from 1887; “Kentiku (Architecture)” was published in 1900, and “Kentiku-Sekai (Architectural World)” was published in 1907. The content, including international news, was published entirely in Japanese (Figure A-Z, Table ).

Architectural Magazines. (A) Kogaku-Kwai-shi, 1890, cover; (B) Journal of Architecture and Building Science, 1889, cover; (C) Journal of Architecture and Building Science, 1889, pp. 2, 3; (D) Journal of Architecture and Building Science, 1951, cover (from Shoji HAYASHI Library: SHL); (E) Kentiku, November 1962, cover (from SHL); (F) Kentiku-Sekai, June 1937, cover; (G) Sinkentiku, August 1934, cover (from SHL); (H) Sinkentiku, August 1934, contents (from SHL); (I) Sinkentiku, August 1934, article, p. 117 (from SHL); (J) Kokusaikentiku, April 1951, cover (from SHL); (K) Kokusaikentiku, April 1951, contents (from SHL); (L) Kokusaikentiku, November, 1955, cover; (M) Kokusaikentiku, November, 1955, Hodgson House, Philip Johnson, pp. 20, 21; (N) Kenchiku-Bunka, December, 1948, cover (from SHL); (O) Kenchiku-Gijutsu, July 1950, cover (from Kenchiku-Gijutsu Library); (P) Modern Living, December, 1948, cover (from SHL); (Q) Modern Living, May 1957, cover (from SHL); (R) JA, June 1959, cover; (S) JA, Feburuary 1963, cover; (T) JA, November-December, 1983, cover; (U) JA, article: “After Modernism” A Dialogue between Kenzo TANGE and Kazuo SHINOHARA, November-December, 1983, p. 7; (V) JA, May 1988, cover; (W) GA, May 1988, cover; (X) GA, May 1988, cover; (Y) a+u, January 1970, cover; (Z) a+u, January 1970, contents.

In 1925, 2 major architectural magazines, “Sinkentiku,” later “Shinkenchiku (Japan Architect)” and “Kokusaikentiku (International Architecture),” began publication. “Shinkenchiku,” in particular, has proven the most influential architectural magazine in the professional milieu over the long term, having covered all categories of architecture, including individual dwellings which are typical of Japanese architecture, of interest to broader Japanese architectural society. “Kokusaikentiku” was established by a group of Waseda University graduates, with a scrupulous recording of the modernist Japanese building world contained in articles written by Hideto KISHIDA, Kunio MAEKAWA, and numerous other first-class local architects. New Japanese buildings were described in addition to traditional ones, thus providing Japanese architects with exposure to new concepts. It is of interest that domestic buildings were introduced in all magazines, while overseas built works were placed only in “Kentiku” and in “Kokusaikentiku.”

“Before World War II, ‘Kokusaikentiku’ introduced fifty percent more page coverage of overseas architecture, with seventy percent more following the cessation of hostilities. At the beginning German Expressionism was clearly front and center. But soon ‘Kokusaikentiku’ obtained materials dealing with new overseas projects of a similar scope to what was being shown in European and American magazines, for example, in Progressive Architecture, Arts & Architecture, Magazine of Building, The Architectural Review, Architectural Forum, Architectural Record, Interiors, DOMUS, and Engineering News Record, among others.”

Figure displays a very early published work. Indeed, until 1950, all texts without exception were written in the Japanese language only. It has always been a principal aim to introduce superior overseas building works and topics to Japanese architects (Table ).

A monthly magazine “JA (The Japan Architect),” a monthly periodical, was founded in 1956 by the publisher, Shinkenchiku-sha Co., Ltd., launched as the only English-language medium promoting new Japanese building to outside the country. Those works it contained were all new buildings, selected carefully from amongst those which had attracted attention in the Japanese-language sister publication “Shinkenchiku.” As an English publication, “JA” served as an important medium for practicing Japanese architects who designed only independent/small houses as it offered them the opportunity promote their works in European countries and in the U.S. It also published relevant articles by Japanese architects, such as “A Dialogue between Kenzo TANGE and Kazuo SHINOHARA,” have been consistently introduced in “JA.” After 1991, “JA” became a quarterly contributed to by various domestic and foreign architects and researchers.

In 1970, “GA (Global Architecture)” was founded by the architectural photographer Yukio Futagawa. The “GA” series focused on significant architecture of the master architects in the world, like, F. L. WRIGHT, LE CORBUSIER, Mies Van der ROHE, with a large size, 364 × 257 mm book format. With photographs and short text published in both Japanese and English, the idea was to target not only Japanese but also international readers. The strong impact of large-sized photographs in “GA” was an important communication tool as part of a common language. Its millions of pages showcase the works of then upcoming Japanese architects like Tadao ANDO, Toyo ITO, Kazuyo SEJIMA.

The year 1971 marked the launch of, “a+u (Architecture and Urbanism),” a Japanese-English bilingual architecture monthly magazine that mainly publishes international architectural information outside of Japan basically. It was founded under the auspices of “Shinkenchiku.” Live trends to readers quickly by collecting data on the architects directly and editing it in each number original viewpoint. The network of this periodical “a+u” covers all in the whole world and more than extends to over 100 countries the world over. In addition, it publishes placed the newly written articles by architects, commentators, and the historians, and is very influential in the architectural fraternity among domestic and international architects alike.

The aforementioned “GA” produced several magazines other including the flagship GA HOUSES in 1976, which featured Robert A. M. STERN, Paul RUDOLPH, Mario BOTTA, Richard MEIER, Arata ISOZAKI, Yoshio TANIGUCHI all in the first issue.

From 1949 onwards, AIJ as the oldest academic organization in the architectural world in Japan, started recognizing qualified architects and their designs. The “Architectural Design Division,” is the most prestigious award in the Japanese architectural world and is awarded to the best buildings designs every year. A selection panel carefully chooses the 100 best designs annually. Selected Architectural Designs Young Architects Award, the rookie of the year title is the prize awarded to that an architect aged at 40 years or younger.

JAR plans to announce around 10 projects every year and aims to promote prize-winning works on an international platform. The idea is to highlight the academic relevance of these works purely from a design perspective focusing on their possible role in aspects like city planning, urban planning, structural engineering, and environmental managements. This will increase opportunities for promoting the work of newer generation architects, and hope is that it will become an important platform for further international exchange and dialogue.