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Kumamoto prefecture lies on the southernmost Japanese island, Kyushu. While the region is home to Mount Aso, one of the biggest active volcanos in the world, and is also the birthplace of actor Tetsu Komai and J-pop singer Kimeru, its most intriguing feature is, without a doubt, its architecture.

The multitude of eye-catching buildings are hardly a coincidence. They are a testimony to Artpolis, an architecture movement started in 1988 by the former governor of Kumamoto prefecture, Morihiro Hosokawa, in his attempt to make the region more visually interesting.

Local architect Arata Isozaki was appointed the commissioner of Artpolis and in collaboration with the governor, several local architects were selected to participate in the project.

Some 20 years later, the architecture movement is still thriving and has won many national and international awards.

“Kumamoto Artpolis — Architecture Through Communication,” on display at the Japan Foundation in South Jakarta, showcases photographs of 73 selected buildings — all open to the public — located throughout Kumamoto prefecture. Each photograph comes with a detailed description of the building’s architect, its function and the location, as well as copies of the construction plans and blueprints.

“Since the organization intends to inspire an architectural movement involving the entire prefecture, participation is open to everyone,” Kiyoharu Horiuchi, an adviser to Artpolis, wrote in the exhibition’s catalogue.

“As for the selection of the architects, the policy is that an architect can be recommended by the commissioner only once during his tenure. This leaves room for a variety of different local architects to contribute their ideas.”

Since its inception, the Architecture Institute of Japan has bestowed the region’s buildings with an award for design almost every year.

“The fact that a number of architects have been discovered by the commissioner and received international recognition for their work on Artpolis projects is also seen as a major accomplishment,” Horiuchi said.

The involvement of many different architects, some renowned, some still up-and-coming talents in the field, might just be the secret of the success of Artpolis. It guarantees a variety of architectural styles, which are clearly evident in the showcased photographs.

Futuristic buildings, giant wooden constructions, modern bridges and restaurants with a minimalist design all have their rightful place in the region.

Nursery schools, public housing complexes and government buildings have received remarkable makeovers, and even public toilet buildings scattered throughout the prefecture have an aesthetic appeal — quite an accomplishment, when one thinks of public restrooms in many other countries, including Indonesia.

“The entire prefecture has taken on the aspect of a museum of contemporary architecture and many visitors come from other parts of the country as well as from overseas to visit the projects,” said Toyo Ito, current commissioner of Artpolis.Since his appointment in 2005, Ito has tried to guide the movement in a slightly different direction, which he summarized with the catchphrase, “Creating while learning, developing while creating.”

“It points out the need for Kumamoto to become a place where architects are not only brought in from outside to work, but a place that is itself a generator of new architecture,” he said.

“In addition, timber produced in Kumamoto will be used to create innovative projects because logging is an important industry in the prefecture.”

Bandung-based architect and urban designer Ridwan Kamil, who attended the opening of the exhibition, said the Artpolis project could provide inspiration for Indonesia.

“It seems to me that many local architects lack direction,” he said. “Japanese are very humble people, and I think you can see that in their architecture as well, which is almost never about grandeur and opulent style.”

He also said it is important not to reduce architecture to its visual components — something that, in his eyes, the Japanese have already mastered.

“To me, Japanese architecture is a little bit like poetry,” he said. “It is a building I can go into that makes me hold my breath and say ‘wow.’ ”

‘Kumamoto Artpolis — Architecture Through Communication’
Until May 16,
daily from 10 a.m.
Japan Foundation
Gedung Summitmas I
Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 61-62
South Jakarta
Tel. 021 520 1266