This course examines how design philosophies and methodologies were developed in Japanese architecture during the 150 years from the Meiji Restoration until the post-modern era. Special attention is paid to how the country’s cultural identity has been continuously relevant to modern society by evolving itself through natural disasters such as earthquakes, and political destruction such as wars. The methodologies and technologies for architecture and cities supported and were influenced by this constantly transforming, yet unchanging, Japanese culture. The course also compares the architecture of two International Expos in Osaka, one in 1970, signifying the end of metabolism, and another in 2025. Highlighted architects include Chuta Ito, Goichi Takeda, Frank Lloyd Wright, Kameki Tsuchiura, Sutemi Horiuchi, Kunio Maekawa, Kenzo Tange, Arata Isozaki, Fumihiko Maki, Kisho Kurokawa, Kazuo Shinohara, Tadao Ando, and Sou Fujimoto. Students are required to make in-class presentations and write a final paper.