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Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP

The bathhouse of “Sankaku-no-Yu” (triangular bath) was inspired by Kucha, the Ainu’s temporary hut used to bivouac when hunting for bears or waiting for salmon in the mountains, and has a quiet presence that nestles close to the surroundings without intruding on the beautiful nature. Kucha’s structure is referred to as Ketunni, a tripod structure made of three logs that are connected on the sides. Its distinctive feature is the inverted triangular pyramid apex with the end of the logs protruding out, which serves as a smoke exhaust and skylight. By turning this into a design element, the hot spring facility with limited windows became an ecological structure with a gentle and uniform shower of natural light as well as natural exhaust of warm humid air by updraft. When viewed from the guestrooms, the cone-shaped huts blowing smoke from the apex become part of the scenery without disturbing the horizon of the lake. Continue reading Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP

Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP . photos: © Koji Fujii / TOREAL

Kamikatsu is about an hour’s drive from Tokushima City, nestled in a mountainous region upstream of Katsuura River. Stunning views and rich nature are preserved, such as the Kashihara Rice Terraces (designated as an Important Cultural Landscape and as One of the Top 100 Terraced Paddy Fields in Japan) and Mount Yamainudake with its divine boulders and dense moss. Fifty-five large and small settlements are scattered between altitudes of 100 to 800 meters. The total population is approximately 1,500 (800 households), the smallest on the island of Shikoku, of which over 50% are elderly as depopulation progresses. Forests account for 88% of total area of the town, of which approximately 80% is man-made with cedar and other. However, the key industry of forestry has declined with the emergence of low-cost lumber imports. On the other hand, seasonal leaves and flowers have been tapped as a new local resource to be shipped out as garnishes for cuisine, putting the town on the map for its business of selling leaves. The elderly and women could pick these with their hands, thus creating jobs. This created a virtuous circle of industry and welfare as town residents regained their vitality and medical costs for the advanced elderly fell greatly below the prefecture average. In 2003, Kamikatsu was the first in Japan to issue a “Zero Waste Declaration” and was selected in 2018 as one of the “SDGs Future Cities.” Continue reading nap

Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP . photos: © TOREAL | Koji Fujii

Many distinct remnants of mountain worship are still much evident in northern Kyoto, where Yamazumi Shrine, which deifies a rock where a mountain god descends and dwells, and many temples with garden that harness the scenery of Mt. Hiei and worship it from afar exist. The people who live in this area today also admire and look to Mt. Hiei to read weather and seasonal changes. Hence, we decided to create a garden and space that draw the sensibility and behavior of the people in this region toward the mountain. Continue reading NAP

Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP . photos: © Koji Fujii / Nacasa and Partners Inc

Kamikatsu in Tokushima prefecture is committed to zero waste, aiming to become a sustainable recycling society. The town has already attained an 80% recycling rate by sorting its waste into 34 categories. Used items are displayed at the recycle center like a store. As mass-production and mass-consumption society reaching an impasse, the world holds great expectations for this movement. Continue reading NAP