Japan and Brazil joined this time by Kengo Kuma

As part of the project to promote great virtues of Japanese culture to other countries, the Japan House São Paulo opened its doors in Brazil with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This cultural enclosure is the first of its kind in the world and was designed by the architect Kengo Kuma.

 

To Japan and Brazil unite a common history that goes back to the early twentieth century, when the South American country was an important Japanese population fruit of the agreement between the Japanese government and the Brazilian, because Japan lived since the end of the nineteenth century a crisis While Brazil needed manpower for coffee jobs.

The Japanese population of Brazil is estimated at 1.5 million, and is the largest Japan-based population in the world, followed by the United States and Peru. Of the total, 12% are born in Japan (Issei) and the rest is divided between nissei (children of Japanese), Sansei (grandchildren), Yonsei (grandchildren) and others. Currently, the term Nikkei is the most suitable for denominating the Japanese and their descendants but it is also common the denomination Nipo-Brasileiro to refer to Brazilian citizens of Japanese origin.

This historical context gave way to an important cultural exchange, of which there are even specific artistic currents, such as the so-called "Escuela Nipo-Brasileira". Therefore, it is not surprising that this year the "Japan House Project" – A project led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs whose objective is to promote various aspects of Japanese culture in the world − opened its first headquarters in São Paulo.

The cultural enclosure of 2.244 square meters is the first of its kind in the world and was designed by the architect Kengo Kuma. The building, which previously housed a bank located on Avenida Paulista, is located in the center of the city of São Paulo, characterized by its great agitation and its business-focused life.

The proposal of the renowned Japanese designer was to create a hospitable and cozy space, of clean lines, arguably, of a warm minimalism. To this end, he transformed the enclosure of the building through a revolutionary wooden façade; While for interiors used an expanded aluminum metal and mixed in Washi (Japanese paper). As a result the spaces maintain a poetic combination of the customs and the new materials creating a modern and transparent space, that offers homely warmth to the visitor and away from the daily Hustle.

The impressive reticle on the facade is made of a new technology of Cypress Wired Kiso Hinoki supported by carbon fiber, materials that together express outward the importance in the details that has always distinguished the Japanese and the birth of A forest that emerges from the great jungle of concrete. All this without forgetting important urban aspects, such as the huge main entrance that is easily accessible parallel to the Gran Avenida Paulista, one of the largest in the city.

With its facilities including an exhibition area, a conference room, a shop and a restaurant, the House of Japan has also become a new tourist point in São Paulo and a way to give continuity to the historical relationship between these two nations .