A: History of French Modern Architecture
During my master and doctorate courses, I studied the modern architectural history of France in the 1920s and 30s. In particular I focused on the works of Robert MALLET-STEVENS (1886-1945) who was one of the representative modern architects at that time. I wrote several academic papers (see List of works for details) and a thesis on his work:

B: Architectural design practice
I participated in plural competitions individually and as a member of the team directed by Professor Katsuhiro KOBAYASHI of the Dept. of Architecture and Building Science at the Tokyo Metropolitan University. I received 3 prizes (see list of works for details). In 2008, I directed the student groupes to participate in the architectural competition for a condominium organised by Suyama construction (Shizuoka prefecture) and they won 1st and 2nd prize in this competition.

C: History of Architecture and Design of Nagoya
Since I moved to Nagoya in September 2006, I have enjoyed discovering the distinct culture and food in this region. I intend to actively research the specific architecture and design that is native in this region. For example, I directed an undergraduate thesis in 2007 on the evolution of the facade design of the oldest Catholic church in Aichi prefecture, Chikaramachi Kyokai. Another graduate thesis, focusing on the tile decoration in public baths in Aichi prefecture, will be published in 2008.

A: Architectural rehabilitation of social housing estates in France
When I worked as a researcher for the 4-Met Center, in the Dept. of Architecture and Building Science at Tokyo Metropolitan University, I worked on the project proposals of comprehensive improvement models to create new value in public apartment complexes erected during Japan's hign-growth era.  Within this project, I was in charge of the research on the rehabilitation of social housing estates in France. I carried out research in France in June 2004 and June 2005. For example, about le quartier Val Fourré de Mantes-la-Jolie, la Cité Michelet dans le 19e de Paris, le quartier des Pyramides à Evry, l'Unité d'habitation à Firminy-Vert, le quartier de la Darnaise et La Duchère à Lyon, etc (I really thank everyone in France for their cooperation!). The result of this research was published in the book: Seiichi FUKAO, Kozo KADOWAKI et Junko ABE-KUDO, Housing Activation in French and Japanese contexts, 4-Met Center, Tokyo Metropolitan Univeristy, November 2007 (English-Japanese version, 500 copies not for sale).
One of the key ideas in the recent architectural rehabilitation in France would be "résidentialisation." I continue researching the effectiveness of this idea.

B: Design a frontier between public and private space

B-1: Detached housing estates with a gate have developed recently in Japan
In Spring 2008, according to our research, 21 detached house estates with a gate are on sale. Why do they enclose a housing estate with a gate and fences in the country known for its safe society? Will this type of housing be increasing in Japan? Is it just a step before gated communities Japanese style? Our laboratory will actively research this subject.

B-2: Design at the base of a residential skyscraper
Residential skyscrapers are rapidly growing in Japanese principal cities.  A tower containing more than 100 dwellings is equal to a village which is constructed vertically. It seems that it is difficult to know each other in a natural way for the residents in this vertical village, due to its exclusive access to their dwellings. It is difficult for the residents of towers to know and be known by the people living around the towers as well.  However, once a serious disaster, such as an earthquake or a fire, attacks the city people must aide each other.  At this moment, daily communication shared by the people living in the quarter would be of prime importance. I feel it is necessary to create a space at the base of a residential skyscraper to both promote natural communication between the residents in the tower and people living in the neighbourhood, in-order to help them to work effectively in case of emergency. Our laboratory will investigate the residential towers in Nagoya city and its suburbs in order to propose effective designs for both the tower and its surroundings.