Friday, October 30, 2020

¢JAPAN BUSINESS REPORT ¢AZUSA SEKKEIARCHITECTURAL PROJECTSEMBODY JAPANESE MARK OFQUALITY AND SINCERITYIt may be accurate to say that
Asuza Sekkei, Japan’s foremost
corporate architectural firm, isobsessed with connections. Its
approach to every building
design or project concept
perennially considers theharmonious interaction between
the buildings and the community,
the people and their aspirations.
These synergistic concepts – therelationship of the present to its
past and the future, the coexistence of people and nature, andthe bond between structures andtowns – constantly run through theminds of Azusa’s architects andteams as they execute plans,consumed with creative passion
and meticulous care.
The firm is particularly pumped
up for the opening of the Tokyo 2020
Olympic Games next year. Azusa ispart of the elite group of architecturalfirms that designed and supervised
the construction of the new National
Stadium project for the globally
anticipated sports event.
Located at the heart of the city,
the new National Stadium issurrounded by greenery – an image
that often embodies Japan’s
philosophy and love of nature.
Modern buildings or structures
quietly juxtaposed with the naturalenvironment are a common sight inthe country, and Azusa seeks toproject this view to the world.
“This project is meaningful to us
because we want the stadium togive a positive impression ofJapan,” says Fumihiko Sugitani,president and CEO of Azusa. “Weput a lot of care and thought into
this project, and so the first point
people will notice in the design isthe harmony of the stadium with thenatural environment. We want thatto represent the image of Japan.”As an advocate of thecontinuous development of theculture of sports in Japan, Azusa
creates stadiums and arenas that
not only function as places where
sports are played and enjoyed, butfacilities that also captivate thepeople who come and watch.
Having designed more sports
facilities than any otherarchitectural firm in the country,
Azusa expertly applies cutting-edge
technology and experience intocreating sports and entertainment
spaces that foster thriving
communities, drive the local
economy and that constantly draw
and thrill audiences.
Within the new National
Stadium, for instance, spectatorsand visitors can also relax in an
intricately designed lounge as theywait for the games to start. The
space is covered with traditional
paper called shoji – a simple touch
to incorporate Japanese culture in
the lounge’s interior design.
To conserve energy, Azusa also
applied the latest eco-friendly
schemes in the stadium’s interior.
“Energy conservation isimportant in buildings around theworld nowadays,” Sugitani says.
“We applied leading-edge designs
and functionality so that wind flows
through the building interior
naturally, controlling thetemperature more effectively
without having to consume toomuch energy for air-conditioning.”

Specialist in air transport
infrastructure
In a way, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
can be considered as the 70-yearold firm’s worldwide coming-out
party. While the company first
opened its international office in
1973, most of its projects then were
centred on Japan’s transportation
sector particularly airport design.
A pioneer in airport design,
having been involved in thecreation of the Tokyo International
Airport in 1952, Azusa is an old
guard in the airport infrastructuredomain. The company’s founder
Fuminaga Kiyota published the twovolume book Kuko to sono kenchikuor “Airports and their Architecture”,
which is considered to this day as
the bible for Japanese architects
designing airports.
Prior to starting the firm in 1946,
Kiyota worked for the Ministry ofCommunication and the Imperial
Japanese Airways, the predecessorof Japan Airlines (JAL). Kiyota did
representative work for many
private offices and governmentbuildings at that time and later
specialised in airport facilities.
After successfully building a
number of major airports andtransport facilities in Japan andAsia such as the Fukuoka Airport
building, hangars for All Nippon
Airways Tokyo and JAL Narita, andthe Addis Ababa Bole International
Airport terminal in Ethiopia, amongothers, Azusa sought to expand its
expertise. It focused on building
sports facilities in the 1980s, andeventually went into large airport

terminals and urban redevelopment
projects in the 1990s.
With booming air travel, Azusa
most notably participated in theexpansion of the Haneda Airport
Terminal 1 and the new Tokyo
International Airport Passenger
Terminal 2. Maximising its airport
design know-how, the company isexpanding its scope to serve theport and harbour, railway and landtransport sectors in Japan andbeyond.
“We are branching out intodevelopment projects that surroundthe transport infrastructure space,”
Sugitani says. “Working moreclosely with in-house and outside
experts in the development andretail fields, we seek to create
facilities that make cities moresustainable, and that support
people’s lives.”

Projects that exemplify quality
and sincerity
Japanese companies are renowned
for their high-quality workmanship,
but what sets Azusa apart is its
sincerity in all dealings and its goalof always exceeding customers’
expectations.
The Japanese work ethic anddetermination are deeply ingrainedin the company’s core, making it abenchmark for quality and client
responsibility in Asia. No wonder
Azusa’s company size doubled in
the past eight years. Its number ofinternational projects also
continues to grow as Azusa
penetrates the fields of urban
development and commercial
facilities, health care and innovative
workplaces.
In the area of urban
development and commercial
facilities, Azusa pursues shapes that
promote convenient lifestyles andcommunication. Comfort is theprime objective. Using its wide
range of experience and specialisedurban architectural knowledge,
Azusa also enhances the value oflands and increases a project’s
brand equity.
In addition, Azusa is sought
domestically and internationally for
its input and involvement inprojects that deal with welfare,
health and medical care. Covering a
range of developments from publichealth centres supporting basic
human needs to highly advanced
hospitals and state-of-the-art
facilities, Azusa’s health careproject designs faithfully live up toglobal standards and client
expectations.
“Sincerity and a deep sense ofresponsibility are common
characteristics within manyJapanese companies,” Sugitani
says. “We are responsible
throughout the project and wenever give up. In terms of keeping
our promises, we always follow
through with accuracy. That is thekind of business we have.”
Through Azusa’s five businessdomains namely transport
infrastructure, sports
entertainment, urban development
and commercial facilities, healthcare and workplaces, the company
aims to showcase its strengths andknow-how in the region andworldwide. From planning to postcompletion maintenance andmanagement, Azusa pursues client
satisfaction and environmentalconservation that helps pass onvalue to future generations.
“Organisations around theworld expect quality from Japanese
corporations, and we are not talking
about luxury, but more sustainablebuildings and facilities – durable,long-lasting and maintenance-free –that is the high quality that weoffer,” Sugitani says.
Sugitani also mentioned that thetechnologies Azusa uses, such as
those applied in the new National
Stadium project, are vastly highlevel, and not something anyone
can do.
“Our architects possess
excellent skills that can serve moreadvanced and mature markets suchas in Europe,” Sugitani says.
Eagle-eyed on delivering
unparalleled benefits to people andmarkets in Europe and Asia, Azusa
is devoted to designing buildingsthat support businesses, inspireand nurture creativity, ensure safety
and security, and foster a sense ofhealing and peace.
One of its overseas projects isthe new Taoyuan City Library andmultipurpose facility in Taiwan.
Located within the Zhongzheng Arts
and Cultural Business District, thenew public library is situated next tothe Taoyuan Arts Center – the latest
building block that is intended to bea modern cultural centre at theheart of Taoyuan.
Azusa has also completed workon the international airports of
Ulaanbaatar and Vientiane, Laos. It
launched two hospital projects inWe seek to create
facilities that make cities
more sustainable, andthat support people’s
lives
Fumihiko Sugitani, president and CEO of Azusa

Vietnam and will soon complete thedesign of a local airport in Hue city.
“We see Vietnam as a risingmarket with rising needs and urban
development projects,” Sugitani
says. “Vietnam will be at the core ofour expansion into international
markets together with reachingother parts of Asia and Europe.”
Just like the azusa or theJapanese cherry birch tree, Kiyota
envisioned Azusa Sekkei to be
steady and graceful. Upholding

dignity at all times and persistently
strong in its resolve, Azusa offers its
superior services with the distinct
Japanese stamp of honour to clientsworldwide.
“Our dream is to spread theJapanese quality mark in Asia,
Europe, the Americas andelsewhere,” Sugitani says. “Wehave diverse nationalities in ourcompany today, but the Japanesegenuine quality is constant. Wealways have that in mind.”Fumihiko Sugitani, president and CEO

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