Japan House São Paulo Opens on Avenida Paulista

Japan House São Paulo opened in spring 2017 on Avenida Paulista, the first of three global centers planned by the Japanese government, with future locations in London and Los Angeles. The venue combines a gallery, café, restaurant, Japan Madoh design shop, a library with over 1,900 volumes, and spaces for workshops and courses. The choice of São Paulo honors the largest Japanese diaspora community outside Japan, concentrated in the Liberdade district. The building was co-designed by Kengo Kuma and FGMF Arquitetos, featuring a hinoki brise-soleil façade. Interiors were curated by designer Kenya Hara. The inaugural exhibition, "BAMBU – HISTÓRIAS DE UM JAPÃO," curated by Marcello Dantas, explores bamboo's significance in Japanese culture, including a short film by Isao Takahata. Installations include "Connection" by Chikuunsai IV Tanabe, made from 5,000 bamboo slats without glue, and "A Circle of Bridge" by Shigeo Kawashima. The center also presented "Flower Messenger" by Makoto Azuma, where cyclists distributed flowers across the city. A free concert by Jun Miyake and Ryuichi Sakamoto was held at Oscar Niemeyer's Ibirapuera auditorium on April 7. On opening day, Japan House welcomed over 4,200 visitors.