Designers/Artists
Some of the leading lights in the fields of architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, arts and crafts have come together to create everything you see, feel and experience at HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO.
Master Design AdvisorMr. Akira KURYU
Interior Design (Guestrooms and Lobby) Mr. André FU
Landscape Design Mr. Shunsaku MIYAGI
Interior Design (SPA and restaurants) Mr. Yohei AKAO
Branding ConsultantMr. Manabu MIZUNO
Contemporary Japanese ArtistMr. Takafumi ASAKURA
Ceramic ArtistMr. Yukiya IZUMITA
Born in Chiba Prefecture. After receiving his Master's degree at the Graduate School of Science and Engineering at Waseda University, Kuryu worked at Maki and Associates. Established A.KURYU ARCHITECT & ASSOCIATES Co., Ltd. in 1979.
Pursues architectural designs with dignity that blend with the environment so they become part of the scenery as they are, along with designing buildings with a comprehensive atmosphere through collaborations with designers of various backgrounds.
Principle works include Uemura Naomi Memorial Museum, Byodoin Temple (Hosho-kan), Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for Atomic Bomb Victims, Ise Jingu (Sengukan), Nara National Museum (Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall) and others. Served as architectural director for The 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan and Pacific Flora 2004 at the Shizuoka International Garden and Horticulture Exhibition, as well as numerous other exhibitions.
Born in Hong Kong. MA in Architecture from the University of Cambridge. Established ANDRÉ FU STUDIO in 2000.
An ethos of modernity, contemporary comforts and relaxed luxury forms the basis of Fu's design philosophy - an aesthetic that transverses different cultures - a reflection of Fu's nomadic lifestyle.
Fu's design for The Upper House (Hong Kong) instantly pushed him to the fore of globally-renowned designers, followed by his creations for Andaz Singapore and The Berkeley, London (The Pavilion Suites). His major works in Japan include Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo (Piacere, Nadaman and Horizon Club Lounge) and Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi (MOTIF).
Born in Kyoto Prefecture. Received his Master's degree from the Graduate School of Design, Harvard University. After becoming Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Horticulture at Chiba University, Specialization Professor at the Department of Residential Architecture and Environmental Science at Nara Women's University and Professor at the Open University of Japan, Miyagi has served as Professor at the Graduate School of the University of Tokyo since 2019. In 1992, Miyagi assumed the post of Partner at PLACEMEDIA, a design organization. He has been engaged in many landscape- and urban- design projects both at home in Japan and overseas.
Principal works in recent years include landscape designs for Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho, GINZA SIX GARDEN, JP Tower/KITTE, Ise Jingu (Sengukan), and others. Miyagi has served as Representative Director for Byodoin Temple - a religious institution - since 2009.
Shunsaku MIYAGI Official Website
Born in Hiroshima Prefecture. A graduate at Scenography, Display and Fashion Design Department of Musashino Art University. 2011 Akao established STRICKLAND Inc. after working with the Space Environment Planning Institute Co., Ltd. followed by Super Potato Co., Ltd. Akao has a wealth of experience in interior design, specializing in hotel dining facilities.
Principle works include The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi (Langkawi Kitchen, The Beach Grill, Hai Yan, Horizon), The Ritz-Carlton, Macau (Lai Heen), and Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto (Sushi Wakon).
Akao's most recent major project was overseeing the interior design of the Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo.
Born in Tokyo in 1972, Manabu Mizuno graduated from Tama Art University in 1996 with a degree in graphic design. Mizuno founded good design company in 1998. His company seeks to develop long-term holistic brand strategies, planning and developing products and brands as well as graphic design, packaging, interior design, advertising and marketing campaigns. Mizuno oversees the creative direction across the whole of the Sotetsu Group, which includes rolling stock, stations, uniforms, etc. as well as creative direction for Kumamoto Prefecture (Kumamon), JR East (JRE POINT), Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten, Kubara Honke/Kayanoya, Kuroki Honten, Oisix and NTT Docomo (iD) to name but a few. Between 2012 and 2016 Mizuno served as an Associate Professor under special invitation at the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies at the Shonan Fujisawa Campus of Keio University. Mizuno has won several accolades at home and overseas, including the Gold Prize from The One Show, the Silver Prize at the CLIO Awards and the Gold Prize at the London International Awards. He has written several books, including Taste Begins with Knowledge (Sensu wa Chishiki kara Hajimaru - Asahi Shinbun Publishing) and How to Work: Building Worlds
- Sensitivity x Intelligence (Sekaikan wo Tsukuru - Kansei x Chisei no Shigotojutsu - Asahi Shinbun Publishing).
Manabu MIZUNO Official Website
Takafumi Asakura was born in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. After completing his BA in nihonga Japanese art at Tama Art University, he went on to gain an MA from the Graduate School of Art and Design at the same university. In 2002, he gained his first selection for the Nitten Japan Fine Arts Exhibition. His detailed sumi-e work is much sought-after, especially overseas. Asakura has served as director of artistic design for the announcements of the stage names for kabuki actors such as Shikan Nakamura VIII, as well as creating the scroll art for a tea ceremony to mark the 450th memorial of the passing of Chokei Miyoshi, the famous daimyo feudal lord. Asakura is one of the most noteable artists working in the field of nihonga Japanese art today. He served as a judge on the 2nd Nitten Showcase for New Artists in 2015 and the 6th Nitten Showcase for New Artists in 2019. Asakura is also a Nitten and Nisshunten member.
Takafumi ASAKURA Official Website
Born in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture. After finishing his apprenticeship under Gakuho, master of Kokuji ware, in 1995 Izumita launched his career as an independent ceramic artist living/working in Noda Village, Iwate Prefecture. In the same year Izumita won the Excellence Award at the Noodle Bowl Award Exhibition, an event sponsored by Nisshin Foods Co. In 1998, he began firing pieces in an anagama kiln and in the years since, Izumita has been feted as an outstanding ceramic artist in exhibitions and art fairs held both at home and overseas. In 2005, Izumita was selected to exhibit his work at SOFA New York and in 2011 he exhibited at the First Modern Kogei Art Fair. 2012 saw Izumita selected to exhibit at SOFA Chicago and in 2014 he was chosen to feature at COLLECT (London). In 2015, his work was exhibited at REVELATION FAIR - GRAND PALAIS PARIS and in 2016 the following year his pieces featured at Art Fair Tokyo 2016. In 2007, Izumita opened the Noda-gama Gallery IZUMITA in the village of Noda, Iwate Prefecture. He continues to work with clay sourced from the Sanriku coastline as well as red clay from Noda Village. Izumita’s art pieces are much sought-after by galleries and collectors around the world.
Yukiya IZUMITA Official Website
