Takaharu Tezuka & Yui Tezuka, Lecturers
Takaharu Yui Tezuka has extensive experience designing spaces for children, such as Fuji Kindergarten, which was named the best school in the world by OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) and UNESCO. They recently recieved Global Award for Sustainable Architecture from UNESCO. Takaharu's TED Talk recorded 7th in the world for the number of views in 2015. They also received domestic prizes such as Architectural Institution of Japan Prize, The Japan Institute of Architects Prize, Good Design Award Gold Prize, and children`s Environment Association Prize. Yui is involved in the establishment of kindergarten's design code at National Institute of Educational Policy Research. While their activity is based on architectural design, they hold lectures all over the world, receiving offers from OECD. Their theory on children's environment is published as the "Yellowbook" from Harvard University. tezuka-arch.com

Don Choi, Lecturer
Dr. Don Choi is a professor of architecture at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, where he specializes in the history of modern architecture. In particular, he researches Japan since the 1800s, examining the development of its distinct architectural culture. While working on his Ph.D. at UC Berkeley, he studied under Dr. Hiroshi Adachi at Kobe University and Dr. Terunobu Fujimori at Tokyo University. At Cal Poly, in addition to teaching classes in history and design, he originated a quarter-long study abroad program in Japan for architecture students.

Hitoshi Abe, Orgarnizer/ Moderator
Hitoshi Abe, Professor and former Chair in the Department of Architecture and Urban Design at the School of Arts and Architecture and Chair in the Study of Contemporary Japan and the Director of the UCLA Paul I. and Hisako Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies. Since 1992, when Dr. Hitoshi Abe won first prize in the Miyagi Stadium Competition and established Atelier Hitoshi Abe, he has maintained an active international design practice based in Sendai, Japan, as well as a schedule of lecturing and publishing, which place him among the leaders in his field. https://aha.design

1.「間」Ma: Time and Space in Japanese Architecture
Hitoshi Abe & Tezzo Nishizawa, Michael Osman
Oct. 29, 2024 (Recorded video will be available)

間 (MA) is a Japanese concept that defines the interval or space between two entities, encompassing both temporal and spatial dimensions, and serves as a foundational principle in various aspects of art, architecture, and life.

3.「廃墟」Hai/kyo: Destruction and Rebirth of Japanese Architecture
Ken Tadashi Oshima & Alicia Volk
JAN. 9, 2025 

廃墟 (HAI/KYO) refers to ruins that embody the remnants of historical destruction caused by disasters such as earthquakes, fires, floods, and wars, while also symbolizing themes of rebirth, recovery, and the creation of new urban landscapes.

4.「陰影」In/Ei: Images of Japanese Architecture
Toru Horiguchi & Liam Young
APR. 2025                 

陰影 (IN/EI) refers to the concept of shadows that highlights the importance of darkness as a vital element in representation, contrasting with the Western focus on light and clarity, and emphasizing the true essence of architecture and form.

5.「数寄」Suki: Microcosm of Tastes
Reijiro Izumi & Kunio Kirisako
JUN. 11, 2025

数寄 (SUKI) originally signified a love for poetry in the Heian period, but evolved to primarily denote the refined aesthetic and cultural appreciation associated with the tea ceremony, reflecting a nuanced relationship between art, architecture, and the appreciation of beauty.