Obayashi Corporation is a Japanese construction company founded in 1892. The first issue of "Obayashi Quarterly" was published in 1978 as a public relations magazine of Obayashi Corporation to introduce information related construction culture along with the surrounding culture. The magazine is based on socially relevant themes and consists of essays by outside experts and the "Obayashi Project," in which the technical staff of the Obayashi develops future plans or hypothetical reconstructions based on the themes.
No.64 "Map"
Maps invite people into the unknown, and people get thrilled when presented with one―a simple sheet of paper.
From maps carved into rocks and historically ancient maps used in old times, to digital maps made by satellite in the modern era, we humans have been perceiving the world through a variety of maps.Not only do they help us visualize the world’s shape and overall appearance, but sometimes imaginary worlds are also constructed based on them.
In this issue showcasing various maps, we examine how people have been trying to view the world and what they are trying to see.In the Obayashi Project, we took on the challenge of deciphering and reconstructing in three dimensions a fictional city map called the Hashihara Castle Town Map (Hashiharashi Joka Ezu) drawn by Kokugaku scholar MOTOORI Norinaga when he was nineteen years old.
（Published in 2025）
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Gravure: Is this also a map?
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What Is a Map?
MORITA Takashi
(Professor Emeritus, Hosei University) - View Detail
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The Frontiers of Maps: From the Present to the Future
WAKABAYASHI Yoshiki
(Professor Emeritus, Tokyo Metropolitan University) - View Detail
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Visible World, Invisible World
OTA Akio
(Professor, Department of Visual Communication Design, College of Art and Design, Musashino Art University) - View Detail
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The Dreams and Solitude of a Youth Who Drew Maps
YOSHIDA Yoshiyuki
(Honorary Director, Museum of Motoori Norinaga) - View Detail
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OBAYASHI PROJECT
Deciphering the Hashihara Castle Town Map: The Imaginary Town of MOTOORI Norinaga
Speculative Reconstruction by Obayashi Project Team
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FUJIMORI Terunobu’s “Origins of Architecture” Series No. 15: Japanese Datum of Leveling Monument
FUJIMORI Terunobu
(Architectural historian and architect; Director, Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum; and Emeritus Professor, University of Tokyo) - View Detail
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Interesting Facts About Maps
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No.63 "Fishery"
Our country is surrounded by the sea. The surrounding area is one of the world's best fishing grounds for a variety of fish and shellfish, and has also cultivated rich food culture. In recent years, however, Japan's fisheries industry has been facing a crisis due to climate change and other factors that have led to a decline in the amount of fish caught in adjacent waters, as well as the diversification of people's dietary habits.
In this issue, we examine the present and future of the fisheries industry with the hope of passing on Japan's unique marine bounty to the next generation. The Obayashi Project envisioned a sustainable fishing ground with low environmental impact, named "Osaka Bay Fish Farm".
（Published in 2024）
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Gravure: Drawn Fishery and Fish
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A History of Japan’s Seafood Culture: Focusing on Fermented Fish
SATO Yo-ichiro (Director General, Museum of Natural and Environmental History, Shizuoka; and Emeritus Professor, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature)
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The Future of Our Oceans, Marine Life, and Fisheries: Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation
MATSUDA Hiroyuki (Emeritus Professor and Specially Appointed Professor, Yokohama National University)
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What Will Be on the Table in 10 Years?: The Challenge of Fisheries GX
WADA Masaaki (Professor, Future University Hakodate and Director, Marine IT Lab, Future University Hakodate)
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Fishery This and That
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OBAYASHI PROJECT
Osaka Bay Fish Farm - Shift from the Clean Sea to the Bountiful Sea
Concept: Obayashi Project Team
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FUJIMORI Terunobu’s “Origins of Architecture” Series No. 14: Seagrass Houses
FUJIMORI Terunobu
(Architectural historian and architect; Director, Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum; and Emeritus Professor, University of Tokyo) - View Detail
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Fish Culture This and That
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