10 Facts About Junzo Sakakura

Junzo Sakakura was a Japanese architect and former president of the Architectural Association of Japan.

Junzo Sakakura rose to the position of studio chief during his seven-year stay in the studio.

Junzo Sakakura formed his own practice on his return to Japan becoming an important member of the modernist movement.

Almost coinciding with Kunio Maekawa's return from Paris, in 1930 Sakakura journeyed to France to enter Le Corbusier's Atelier.

Junzo Sakakura had left Japan at an opportune moment as the economy was in recession with a spiralling increase in political violence.

At the behest of Le Corbusier, Junzo Sakakura enrolled on a course in architectural construction at college for six months before commencing his apprenticeship.

Junzo Sakakura would sit with the students and do sketches of his thoughts.

However, the French Government insisted that the design being completed with French materials and labour so this led to Junzo Sakakura receiving the commission as he had just returned to Japan.

Junzo Sakakura returned to France to supervise the project but unexpected site conditions forced him to change the design and he sought Le Corbusier's advice on this.

Junzo Sakakura won a limited entry competition for the design of the Museum of Modern Art in the grounds of the Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine in Kamakura.