Opening doors at hand through one’s own volition, and aiming for architectural design that links Sendai and the world.
Chair and Professor, Department of Architecture and Urban Design, University of California, Los Angeles
Chair, Atelier Hitoshi Abe
Director, UCLA Paul I. and Hisako Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies
Hitoshi Abe
What an architect born in the Tohoku region and presently succeeding on the world stage sees.
“Japanese architecture is popular at present. However, this does not mean that Japanese architecture has changed. I think the reason is that the world’s evaluation axes have changed, and there is a greater appreciation for Japanese culture now.” On July 3, at Tohoku University, a Japanese architect was conducting a special lecture at the Center Hall of the Engineering Department. It was Professor Hitoshi Abe who has architecture ateliers in Sendai and Los Angeles, and who is also the present chair of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Department of Architecture and Urban Design. The theme of his lecture was “Japan as a foreign country.” He spoke about how Japan has built up its present culture while touching on his feelings during his student days, the potential of Japanese architecture and the differences between America and Japan. “Japan has accepted the world’s culture, changed its form, combined and transformed it to make ‘Japanese culture,” he said. Professor Abe also touched on how one becomes more aware of Japan while living abroad, a perspective he came to have as a result of residing in Los Angeles, which made students look forward to the potential of being exposed to the wider world still unknown to them. For an architect born in Tohoku and who is now playing an active role on the world stage, where could the source of his energy be?
Following in the footsteps of his father and his grandfather, he is the third generation to enter Tohoku University where he learns the basics of architecture at the School of Engineering.
Born in Sendai, Professor Abe spent most of his primary school years in Fukushima. He was the kind of child that saved money by delivering newspapers to be able to buy the radio controlled toys that he wanted. Around the time when he was in the sixth grade, he was asked by a senior newspaper delivery boy what he would like to be when he grew up. Up to this day, Professor Abe still remembers declaring, “I want to be an architect.” He adds, “Although I do think that I didn’t know then what an architect actually was. Even though I said that I’d like to be one, it wasn’t like I was studying to become an architect from an early age.” Professor Abe immersed himself in soccer for three years during his time at Mukaiyama High School. To continue his studies, he naturally chose Tohoku University where his father and grandfather studied. After entering the Department of Architecture, he conducted his own study groups aside from study groups held during classes, thus exhibiting leadership traits. From working part-time during the summer of his freshman year, he began to become conscious of specializing in something. He turned to architecture in earnest from the latter half of his sophomore year. “It was only after getting to know professors, architects and all kinds of people that I decided to study architecture more seriously,” says Professor Abe.
“It’s no use going to Tokyo, so I’m heading off to America.” Professor Abe immerses himself in architecture, in a completely different environment from Japan.
Strongly wanting to study architecture more, and wanting to study under someone, Professor Abe decided to study abroad while taking a leave of absence from the Graduate School of Tohoku University. Thinking that “It’s no use going to Tokyo, so I’m heading off to America,” he knocked on the doors of the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), and enrolled in its M-ARC program. It was not exactly what you could call a perfect environment, but it was an environment directly linked to making things, so he immersed himself in architecture. Professor Abe says, “Actually, when I was a child I liked Edison, and I did think about wanting to become an inventor. I thought it was because I strongly wanted to create something new. The days I spent engaging in making things at SCI-Arc were really valuable.” Professor Abe also spoke about the things he learned by going to America, specifically, the difference in architectural education in Japan and in America. In order to nurture “people involved in architecture,” students learn from various perspectives such as engineering, design and sociology in Japanese universities. In contrast, in America, “architects” are nurtured by studying a specialized program. In addition to the basics of the way of thinking as an architect and having extensive knowledge, Professor Abe was learning to achieve expertise by studying in America.
Chair and Professor, Department of Architecture and Urban Design, University of California, Los Angeles
Chair, Atelier Hitoshi Abe
Director, UCLA Paul I. and Hisako Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies
Hitoshi Abe
Graduated from the Department of Architecture, School of Engineering, Tohoku University in 1985. Received his master’s degree from the Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University in 1987. Completed the M-ARC program of the Southern California Institute of Architecture in 1989. Established Atelier Hitoshi Abe in 1992. Received his engineering doctor’s degree in 1993. Became a professor at the Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University in 2002, after which he assumed the post of Chair of the Department of Architecture and Urban Design, University of California, Los Angeles in 2007. Awards he has received include the Architectural Institute of Japan’s Prize of AIJ for the Reihoku Community Hall in 2003, among others.