In 2008, OPENERS featured "Japan's Young Architects: Now Capturing Global Attention," an introduction to five Japanese architects. It was an attempt to embody the state of Tokyo in the 2000s—a decade of advanced information technology where the internet and personal computers had become commonplace—through the words of these architects, professionals who shape the city's form. It was also an effort to describe Tokyo not as something rooted in an unreal virtuality, but as a reality that emerges from human activity.

Entering the 2010s, the economy and politics have become increasingly turbulent, consumer preferences and fashion trends have diversified, and the world seems to have entered an era where the future is difficult to foresee. Precisely because of this, could we now be at a favorable turning point towards the next era, if we think positively?

This architectural feature introduces five Japanese women architects. All of them are engaged in global activities in ways only architects can, broadening their perspectives to regional areas and the world while keeping an eye on the current state of Tokyo. We hope that through the words of the five architects featured here, we can offer even a glimpse of the future form of Tokyo (the city) and the ideal future for our OPENERS readers.

Interviewer, Summary = Takashi Kato