Nagasaki holds a special place in the history of photography in Japan. Not only was it the portal through which this foreign technology entered the country, it was also one of the first places in Japan to be captured in photographs. Some of the most accomplished photographers of the 19th century passed through Nagasaki at some point in their careers, leaving behind valuable records of the city and how it grew. And this beautiful port town produced some of Japan's earliest and most celebrated photographers. more...

Kengo Kuma is perhaps the most renowned Japanese architect currently in practice. His international status has allowed him to attract increasingly notable commissions, carrying his prolific career to ever greater heights. However, the current exhibition of his works, Kengo Kuma: a LAB for materials, is not necessarily a platform he uses to boast over his achievements. On the contrary, Kuma takes this opportunity to highlight the humble source of his architectural philosophy of makeru kenchiku, translated as "losing architecture." "Losing" refers to the notion that it is not the building itself that should be the center of attention, but its ability to respond to its physical and cultural context, and to resonate with nature. more...