New stars swept over the Japanese architectural world in the Taisho era with striking impact: the Bunriha, the first architectural movement in Japan. In 1920, classmates of the Department of Architecture of Tokyo Imperial University, Kikuji Ishimoto, Mayumi Takizawa, Sutemi Horiguchi, Keiichi Morita, Shigeru Yada, and Mamoru Yamada formed the group before their graduation. With Shuichiro Ouchi, Chikatada Kurata, and Bunzo Yamaguchi later joining, the group was active in exhibiting and publishing their works until 1928.
The year 2020 marks 100 years since its formation. Following the trajectory of the young architects who emerged swiftly and vividly in the changing world, the exhibition includes related artworks along with drawings, models, photographs, and videos. What was the “art” in architecture they pursued? The exhibition casts new light to reveal the role the group played in the history of contemporary Japanese architecture.