From August 9 to October 27, 2024, the exhibition Explorations of Sutemi Horiguchi: Modernism, Rikyu, Garden, Waka will be on display at the National Archives of Modern Architecture in Tokyo.
Architect Sutemi Horiguchi (1895-1984) played a central role in the formation of the Bunriha Kenchiku Kai in the 1920s, the first authentic modern architecture movement in Japan. In the 1930s, Horiguchi realized some of the most important works of international style architecture in Japan. In addition to his early understanding of modern architectural trends in the West, he conducted outstanding research on Japanese tea houses and sukiya-style architecture. After World War II, his implementation of modern sukiya-style architecture was highly influential. From the 1920s to the 1970s, Horiguchi was a leading architect in the Japanese architectural world. His profound understanding of both modern and traditional Japanese architecture made him an exceptional architect. Well-versed in the tea ceremony and waka poetry, his creativity was not limited to designing architecture and gardens but spanned a wide range of genres. Here we see the fruits of Horiguchi's remarkable spirit of exploration and creativity.