Shohei Shigematsu Guest Edits Whitewall's Japan Issue

OMA partner Shohei Shigematsu guest edits Whitewall's Spring 2026 Japan issue, focusing on the people shaping contemporary culture. The issue explores Japan's layered coexistence of history and modernity, where architecture, art, fashion, craft, and music insert new ideas into dense contexts. Shigematsu notes Japan's distinct temporal rhythm—patience and slow maturation in craft versus fast-paced cities and overstimulating information flows. The country's recent economic stagnation fostered a unique cultural originality, now gaining renewed global attention beyond major cities to smaller towns, coastal regions, and rural landscapes. Artists, architects, designers, curators, and gallerists from local and global communities are engaging these sites. International galleries strengthen their presence, fashion brands act as cultural platforms, and youth culture creates independent ecosystems. The issue highlights spaces, practices, and ideas born from these intersections, offering a glimpse into Japan's evolving cultural fabric.