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
Moving forward without stopping, Professor Abe embarks on a path towards teaching after establishing an atelier.
After completing his master’s degree program in America, Professor Abe took his first step as an architect at an architectural firm in Los Angeles. He opened that new door before him at the drop of a hat - this is his way of living. In order to write his thesis for his doctor’s degree at the Graduate School of Tohoku University, he temporarily returned to Japan where another door awaited. He says, “I joined an architecture competition. I applied and amazingly, my proposal won. I quickly had to establish my own atelier.” His proposal was for the ‘Miyagi Stadium,’ an athletic field and architectural structure known to anybody in Miyagi Prefecture. Designing his first structure in Japan and establishing his own atelier - hectic days continued but he was still happy to have been involved in designing the stadium. Being a soccer-playing kid during the high school days stoked his passion even more for designing a stadium where soccer matches would be played. The next door was something new - that of becoming a university professor. “I thought that this was an opportunity for me to teach the things I felt as a student that I needed to know more about while learning architecture.” His decision was made, giving rise to Hitoshi Abe, Professor.
“Whenever there is a door at hand, I always want to open it.” Another door opens, and this time, a door to the world.
Professor Abe taught at his alma mater, the Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, for five years. The next door at hand was once again world-class. It was an invitation to be the chair of UCLA’s Department of Architecture and Urban Design. “Whenever there is a door at hand, I always want to open it. You can say that I have a high level of curiosity. Whenever I encounter the allure of a new opportunity, I seize it with no thought of going back because I like to broaden my world,” he says. How to be able to give value to Japanese architectural design in a global arena? How will American and Japanese architectural design meet with a backdrop of American society’s values and American education? What will come out of it? With his curiosity level heightened, he left for UCLA. As a chair, as an architect with ateliers in both Japan and in America and as the Director of UCLA’s Center for Japanese Studies, Professor Abe who has three “faces” has moments of “fun” common to all three of his jobs. “It may be the moment when what I only had as an image in my head actually takes shape. Especially in architecture, when something takes shape, you yourself can step inside what you have created. It is indeed fun when what you’ve dreamed up becomes a beginning and then you become aware of something new,” he says.
Without being influenced by circumstances, Professor Abe adheres to his own will. His next goal is to link Sendai and the world.
An architect who was born in Sendai, studied at Tohoku University and spread his wings to venture into the world speaks of further goals. “As a chair, I’d like to create an expanded platform that combines the essences of Japanese and American architectural education. And one more thing. I would like to play the role of bridging Sendai and the world. I’d like to make Sendai where my atelier is the hub for nurturing students of architecture. For example, we could have a competition in Sendai for students majoring in architecture that will choose the best in Japan. I’d like to lay the foundation of an environment that can achieve the aim of bridging Sendai and the world.” While Professor Abe continues to move forward from one thing to the next, the fulcrum that is Sendai, his starting point, is indispensable. He boldly tries his hand at every opportunity that comes his way. There could be a genuine passion borne out of curiosity in the backdrop of Professor Abe continuing to widen his spheres of activity even at this very moment. He says, “I am often asked by students if they have the talent within themselves for architecture, but nobody knows the answer to that. There are plenty of artists who are recognized only after they pass away, right? The important thing is to find what you like, and find what you can believe in. As well as questioning yourself constantly. Instead of being confined by the circumstances that you are in, isn’t it better to adhere to your own will?”
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.