portfolio_Jotaro Kato

Jotaro Kato portfolio Research Design landscape architecture furniturte

31 May 2026 16:59 Japan

Jotaro Kato

Aichi, Japan

Education Nagoya high school

2016-2020

-Studying abroad to Melbourne, Australia

Nagoya City University

2017 2020-2025

Bachelor of Arts and Engineering, architecture degree -Working at Rekagu store (furniture office)

2020

Nagoya City University Graduate School

2025-

Experience Rekagu store

Furniture office

2020-2021

Architecture office

2022-2025

-Internship

CAn -Part time job

SfG

Landscape design office

2024-

-Part time job

Rekagu store - knitting the seat of Y-chair

Award

Software

Language 0

Excellence Award

-Architecture Department Aichi 17 Universities Design Competition

2021

Excellence Award

-Architecture and Urban Planning Student Activity Competition

2025

Excellence Award

-Hibiya Landscape Design Exhibition

2025

English

0

100

Auto CAD Adobe illustorator

Japanese

Adobe Photoshop Sketch up Rhinoceros Twinmotion

100

01 -bachelor graduation project-

PET SCAPE project period:6 month (August/2024-Jan/2025) I conducted a six-month survey on littering in a certain entertainment district. Rather than viewing discarded trash as an indicator of public morality or the level of safety, it can be understood as a trace of human presence. A space where a plastic bottle has been left behind suggests a small spot that users of the street have unconsciously claimed as their own. By applying subtle interventions to these countless “PET SCAPES” that appear throughout the city, such places can be transformed from mere dumping sites into shared places for people to inhabit.

p04-21

coffee can 350ml

water plastic 500ml

tomato juice paper 300ml

01

apple juice paper 1.5L

yogurt plastic 1L

PET SCAPE Nagoya, JAPAN

water plastic 500ml

theme little change in PET SCAPE

corn soup can 350ml

water plastic 2L

SITE

CURRENT SITUATION In the midnight, young people and foreigners can be seen loitering everywhere.

Come morning, they have all vanished, leaving behind nothing but empty drink containers to mark where they had been.

night time landscape they find their spot to stay and drink outside

USER of this alley People who have fled mainstream society gather in this area.

For those who live here it is a vital refuge, essential for their survival.

They enjoy themselves in their own little worlds, but there is no communication between the communities

Joshidai alley - a small night light district -

punk kid

clubers

sexsual minorities

next morning landscape Only the drink containers are left behind

MY RESEARCH

PET SCAPE ー Noun 1 Someone’s favourite spot A location where discarded beverage containers are found. = A place where people have previously gathered to eat and drink.

Etymology

PET pet scape

plane view a parking lot

plot the place of the liiter of drink Exploring locations with high potential for long-term residence

axometric view a parking lot

Measure the dimensions of the area Discovering that sense of space

[chem] polyethlene terephthalate Favourites, loved ones Scenes of...

Street Survey Map

a

c

b d

Survay of PET SCAPE The plan shows the site as it appeared in the morning.

The red dots indicate locations where discarded beverage containers were left behind.

These dots represent data from five separate occasions. example Locations where discarded beverage containers have been found on two or more occasions. e

a

b

c

d

e

f

f

0

1

5

10(m)

N

a

0

0.5 1.0

2.0m

-Location: a parking lot -Types of drink: coffee -How they read the space: He was sitting on the stone steps, leaning against the fence

Catalogue of PET SCAPE

01

0

spatial nature

0.5 1.0

c

b

2.0m

-Location:the pole at crossroads -Types of drink: coffee -How they read the space: He was sitting on the pole drinking coffee

0

0.5 1.0

2.0m

-Location:The window of store -Types of drink: water, juice -How they read the space: They’ve brought chairs over to the store and are chatting

e

d

0

0.5 1.0

2.0m

-Location: between buildings -Types of drink: water (2L) -How they read the space: He was leaning against the wall, drinking some water

0

0.5 1.0

2.0m

-Location:on the plinth of the pillar -Types of drink: beer -How they read the space: He was leaning against the pillar, drinking some water

f

0

0.5 1.0

2.0m

-Location:on the top of box -Types of drink: plam juice -How they read the space: He was sitting on the box and chatting with friends

minor conversion Perform

on PET SCAPE

plane view

a. bent fence at a parking lot By bending the fence outward, a place to sit emerges, transforming a boundary element into a small public space. section view

wood

steel

axometric view

b. seat at an intersection The seat remains hidden within the guardrail and unfolds only when needed, transforming an ordinary street corner into a place to pause.

when it used

when it folded

Opening mechanism

c. pop-up Pub at the Corner Installing a movable barrier beneath the store canopy creates a temporary pub, using the drainage channel and the canopy as the structural framework for the design.

section view

①

②

③

opening mechanism

d. counter in a 30cm gap A fold-out counter hidden within the 30-centimeter gap between two buildings unfolds only at night, transforming an unused space into a place for gathering. bask view/section view

stand view

e. a room along the street Extending the mortar base around the columns creates a small sheltered space beneath the eaves, where two people can sit face to face. section view

axometric view

f. a gathering corner Installing a chalkboard beside the parking payment machine creates a place for conversation, activating a corner where people naturally gather.

plane view

bent fence at a parking lot

counter in 30cm gap

seat at an intersection

pop up pub at the corner

a room along the street

a gathering corner

02 -A laboratory project in university-

Nishiki street pilot experiment project period: 10 months (Feb-Nov/2024)

As a research laboratory in University, I was involved in the design of the spatial layout for the Nishiki Street Social Experiment in year 2024. I designed the project with the implementation of a slalom-shaped street in mind, aiming to transform the surplus space created along the sidewalks into comfortable “rooms” that serve the needs of those using the street.

p22-41

02

theme Temporary and next

Nishiki street pilot experiment Nagoya, JAPAN

SITUATION

A sidewalk people just walk past This is a section within a business district. In this area, where convenience and efficiency are always prioritized, we have created a comfortable, room-like space within the outdoor environment.

site

Concept

-Create the cozy room in public space-

Overview Nishiki Street pilot experiment 2024 Dates: October 21–November 10, 2024 Organized by: Nishiki 2-chome Area Management Co., Ltd. Design: Ohno Laboratory, Nagoya City University/Jotaro Kato Funded by: City of Nagoya

Diagram

-Idea and the shape of road-

Widen not just only one side of the sidewalk, but both sides.

Create places for people to stay within the widened sections.

By varying the size of these widened

Create a cozy, room-like space surrounded by greenery within the expanded area.

STREET PLAN

it’s comfatable here,getting sleepy

let’s grab sandwich and have a lunch there

what kind of plants is this,mom?

nice sofa and cozy here

1.2.3.4.5.6!

good scenary today

ELEMENTS

Plants

Palm leaf bench

Frame Pot

Wind chime

Plant Nameplate

900mm

Plants

250mm

The plants we choose

How we collect the plants

SITE

Rather than sourcing plants from distant locations, the planting scheme is composed of native species. This reduces the carbon footprint associated with transport whilst providing an opportunity to learn about locally sourced plants.

Rather than sourcing plants from distant locations, the planting scheme is composed of native species. This reduces the carbon footprint associated with transport whilst providing an opportunity to learn about locally sourced plants.

Where did they go after the event

SITE

The plants used for the event were donated to nearby public facilities and social welfare facilities after the event concluded.

The goal was to establish a system where even temporary events give back to the community. Transparent sheet

Palm leaf bench Palm leaf rolls as green infrastructure

mm

600

palm leaf rolls are a material used for riverbank protection.

This material will be utilised as green infrastructure in this event in an urban area. During heavy rain, stormwater drains on streets are subjected to sudden surges of water, which increases the risk of river flooding.

Palm leaf rolls temporarily absorb this water, allowing it to be discharged gradually.

15 00 mm

1500mm

How drainage works

During heavy rain -Current situation

As soft as a sofa Rainwater

If contaminated rainwater flows directly into the catch basins, it can cause rivers to swell and lead to environmental pollution.

-Proposal while the event Palm leaf roll

Rainwater

The palm leaves are wrapped in rope, allowing them to be shaped as desired. Furthermore, when you sit on them, they are as soft as a sofa; it is a unique experience to feel the texture of the palm leaves whilst out on the street.

Contaminated rainwater is absorbed by the Palm leaf rolls, and gradually flows away.

Flame Pot -Signboard-

Flame shape and Coloring

Flame Pot -Bench-

Flame Pot -Counter Table-

Rhythmical walkway

Plan diagram

Rather than simply lining up standard planters, we devised a design for the planters that is unique to this location. The design incorporates the shape and colour of the large frame that serves as a symbol of the town.

Delicate, vibrantly coloured frames emerge rhythmically from the planters. These frames lend a sense of rhythm to the otherwise monotonous walkway whilst serving as a guide to the entrance of this small retreat.

Planting plates

Planting plates that enhance the spatial experience

Plant labels that one would normally pay no heed to. Their mirror-finished surfaces appear to float as they emerge in clusters.

As one walks between the plants, something sparkling guides one towards them.

Wind Chime

Wind chimes' tinkling fills the air

Wind chimes, each featuring an acrylic plate indicating a different area, ring out here and there, adding to the festive atmosphere of the event

DETAIL PLAN

Tek Tek room

narrow path

Detail plan

SCALE=1/75

approach to the deck

tea room deck

Along the approach leading to the tea-room deck, Grand Char Sheet was used to create a paving design inspired by stepping stones. At the entrance from the sidewalk, existing parking meters were repurposed to evoke a nijiriguchi—the small, humble doorway found in traditional

1800

436

90-H320

Goro Goro room

Detail plan

SCALE=1/75

confortable soft sofa

yashi-mat works as green inflastructure

place to have a rest

Because a supermarket faces the site, a small space was created where people can take a moment to relax in their daily routine. The curved forms produced by the flexibility of the yashi-mat benches create inviting places to sit, resulting in a comfortable space surrounded by planting.

2200

500

500

03 -B2 second term studio-

primary school project period:5 weeks (September-November/2024)

I proposed a primary school to serve as the heart of the town.

Rather than simply designing a primary school, we aimed to create a space where children could run around in a larger open area, whilst actively fostering connections with the local community by planning the adjacent park as an integrated whole.

p42-51

03

theme Primary school as a hub for local community

Primary school Nagoya, JAPAN

section B-B’

room for neig

neighbor cafe

section A-A’

park

rubber chips ya

gym

library

cooking

art

ghbors

ard teacher office sand ground

nurse office head

meeting

master room office

N

Layout plan

scale 1:500

4-A

4-B

5-A

5-B 6-B

6-A

3FL plan

scale 1:1000

multiple

music

art

pool

1-A

1-B 3-B

3-A

2-B

2-A

N

2FL plan

scale 1:1000

PROPOSAL DIAGRAM

120m

site

70m

park

public

private

public

common

private

Although the site area is limited, as the park is

Treating the park and the school sports ground as two

By constructing two separate buildings, each taking

adjacent, the project will be planned as an integral

open spaces, we aim to create a space where these

on an arc-like shape around the park and the sports

part of the park.

two open spaces seem to overlap.

ground respectively, three open spaces are created.

section plan A-A’ scale 1:400

Community Block

Classrooms Block

sight to outside of school

unity

od comm

ighborho

sight to ne

sight to ensure safety

teacher office

section plan B-B’ scale 1:400

04 -cliant work-

mobile table project period:one month (March-April/2024)

One day, a friend’ s acquaintance approached us—architecture students—with a request to design display fixtures. They wanted us to design and build the fixtures to be used for their booth at the “Social Tower Market.” This was not a self-initiated project, but a commission for a client.

Working as a team of four students including myself, we created the entire piece from scratch, from design to construction.

Co worker

Taisei Asai / Hideaki Haruno / Ryo Yoshikawa

p52-59

04

theme Mobile table

Mobile table for events Nagoya, JAPAN

Cliant

” minato running club”

They are a group based in Minato Ward, Nagoya, that organizes running activities by gathering people from the local community. In the design, we actively incorporated the lacing patterns of running shoes—an element closely familiar to them.

A cord that ensures both structural integrity and mobility The cords act in tension against the outward forces on the three legs caused by the weight of the tabletop, giving them a structural role rather than serving merely as decoration. In addition, because the cords are adjustable, the one connecting the three legs can be easily loosened, allowing the piece to fold compactly.

Allowing for multiple ways of use The table and hanger rack, composed only of cords, wooden bars, and a tabletop, have a simple structure yet allow the user to choose freely how to use them—hanging T-shirts on the cords, clipping items between them, or axonometric

placing objects on the woven surface.

Table

Display rack

Table

Display rack

PLAN S=1/25

ELEVATION S=1/25

PLAN S=1/25

ELEVATION S=1/25

” social tower market” Views of the setup during the event.

“Minato Running Club” set up their booth in a corner of the Oasis 21 plaza in Sakae. The fixtures we created, though small and simple, had a strong presence—the vivid blue cords forming their structure stood out even from a tucked-away location.

other works

how we create commons -old house renovation project 2024-

This is an approach to creating a sense of place that emerged from the renovation of an old folk house I’ m currently designing.

Through my interactions with local residents during the design process, I realized something I had lost sight of: simply “building architecture together” is enough to connect strangers.

Communication flourishes among residents, and the construction site functions as a commons. As these building commons spread throughout the town, the town regains its vitality.

■parts to Stay ■parts to fix ■new parts to build

community garden

Mourning with Rapeseed Flowers -Keikan-kaika Competition 2023-

We will use the power of plants to clean up the soil contamination in the Oe River and restore it to its natural state. The act of people cutting rapeseed flowers and offering them to the trees will serve as an opportunity to draw attention to the soil contamination problem in the Oe River̶an issue that had been swept under the rug.

system

1. Plant the rapeseed seedlings grown outdoors

2. Rapeseed absorbs dioxins from the soil

3. Harvest the mature

4. Walking While Harvesting

5. Offering rapeseed flowers to a

rapeseed flowers

Rapeseed Flowers

tree at the end of the road

Return to step 1 and repeat; the soil contamination will gradually be remediated.

A yaer later

50 years later

100 years later

Rapeseed flowers spread across the entire property.

Once a place has been completely purified, human intervention is no longer necessary, and it

Land that was once polluted by humans is returning to its natural state through the power of

becomes a new habitat for wildlife and plants.

plants, with some human intervention.

Rehabilitation Garden in Gamagori city hospital -University lab project 2025-

Design of a Rooftop Garden at a Regional Public Hospital Adjacent to the rehabilitation room, the garden was designed to serve both as a space for rehabilitation and as a gathering place for other users.together” is enough to connect strangers.

Communication flourishes among residents, and the construction site functions as a commons. As these building commons spread throughout the town, the town regains its vitality.

Plants name plate Gamagori City is known as a yachting town, and the garden was designed with the concept of treating the garden as the sea, with the plant name tags appearing within it like yacht 0

1

5

Modern Landscape Architecture In Japan review -on going research-

Aim of this research right now American Landscape architecture

Modern Landscape Architecture in Japan

Future of Landscape architecture in Japan

Japanese Garden 1950

60s

70s

80s

90s

00s

10s

reviewing

30 years

trace landscape plan

20s

30s

40s

50s

60s

shape and methods Repetitive Operations

Seat with a raised step

×50 Natural stones placed along an artificial linear path

Rather than focusing on the designers’ philosophies or discourses, this study seeks to reexamine contemporary Japanese landscape design by first examining the “forms” depicted in the drawings.

It then reevaluates what these forms in landscape design can achieve and attempts to clarify their possibilities and limitations.

Landscape Architecture Design Vocabruary in Japan wholeness Random Placement

JR Gate tower

open space Repetition and Deviation

Shinagawa Central-Garden

parking lot

Independent Ellipse

Kaze no Oka Funeral Home

Grid Layout

Linear Forms Inspired by Architectural Form

Tokyo International Exchange Center

Repetitive Operations

Fukui Prefectural Archives

Konosu City Cultural Center

A design technique that uses repeated

Repetition is a technique widely used for its

An ellipse formed regardless of the site

A technique for arranging paving,

A design approach that harmonizes

By scattering dots along the parking lot

f o r m s t o c r e a t e a u n i fi e d s p a c e . B y

dual nature—creating a sense of

or the building’ s outline. While it lacks

lighting, and tall trees at regular intervals

architecture with the exterior landscape.

lines and arranging trees in a grid

employing a random composition, the

wholeness while maintaining a human

the strong geometric precision of a

across a large area.

This involves referencing the linear

pattern, the parking lot is not treated as

design avoids conveying a strong

scale—but it can result in monotonous

perfect circle, it is not a free-form shape

The grid layout serves as an element

elements of the architecture and slightly

an outsider in the design, but rather

message. It can be said to be a technique

spaces. Here, by introducing slight

either; this geometry brings a pleasant

that breaks down the scale of the large

shifting or offsetting them.

contributes to a sense of unity in the floor

well-suited for creating a cohesive space

variations into the repetition, the design

variation to the floor plan and, when

area into segments.

while intentionally concealing the

breaks through that monotony.

experienced in person, contributes to a

designer’ s intent.

plan.

sense of reassurance.

path The lines dividing paths

Kaze no Oka Funeral Home

Dead End on the Path

Kaze no Oka Funeral Home

Stepping stones dividing the plaza

Composition of Multiple Cobblestone Patterns

Studio in Uji

Kaze no Oka Funeral Home

The Radial Layout of the Three Paths

Uemura Naomi Memorial Sports Park

Paving Using Multiple Materials

Kera-Ike Skate Rink

There are several lines along the long

Garden paths are generally designed to

Stepping stones that divide the plaza.

There are various patterns of

The main approach and the garden

By dividing the paving into multiple

garden path. These lines, which appear

connect one place to another. However,

While providing a structural framework

cobblestone paving.

paths on either side that fan out from the

patterns, the garden paths are

at regular intervals, break up the

the path introduced here is a dead end,

for the plaza’ s outline, the inclusion of a

By subtly varying the pattern of the

entrance toward the building. Their

segmented, and this serves as an

monotony of the path and add rhythm to

and it may serve as a place where

garden path made of stepping stones

cobblestones, even the same garden

radial layout eliminates any sense of

element that adds variety to the spaces.

the walking experience.

visitors can encounter the scenery.

within the vast, open space not only

path can offer a different walking

axial symmetry.

divides the plaza but also provides a

experience.

topography

tall tree

Repeated Terrain Manipulation

Buffer elements between the site and its surroundings

YKK Corporation Kurobe Plant

Kagoda Park

Multiple Pyramidal Landforms and Valley/Ridge Trails

Repetition of tall tree

Ogal park Shuwa-cho

Tokyo International Exchange Center

Buffer Elements Around tall tree Belt

Scattered Furniture

Fukui Prefectural Archives

Fukui Prefectural Archives

Terrain featuring geometric shapes or

Terrain featuring geometric shapes or

Trails that wind along ridges and through

Arrange the tall trees at regular intervals.

A technique for arranging paving,

The furniture scattered throughout the

outlines is used as a buffer between the

outlines is used as a buffer between the

valleys, and pyramid-shaped mountains.

This approach combines two aspects:

lighting, and tall trees at regular intervals

site serves not only to enhance the

site and its surroundings.

site and its surroundings.

Rather than being treated merely as

establishing repetition as an element that

across a large area.

sense of unity in the space but also as

topographical features, they are

forms the skeletal framework of the

The grid layout serves as an element

objects that provide small, intimate spots

designed to be enjoyed as part of the

overall composition, while also scaling it

that breaks down the scale of the large

to linger.

walking experience.

down to a human scale.

area into segments.

accent Seat with a raised step

Kamaishi Omachi park

The Metal Edge of Tall tree

Mihara Performing Arts Center POPOLO

Skewed Distribution

Kaze no Oka Funeral Home

Property Boundary Edge

Mihara Performing Arts Center POPOLO

Text on the garden paths

Natural stones placed along an artificial linear path

Kaze no Oka Funeral Home

Byodo-in Hoodo

A white seat placed on a step. The mere

Steel edging installed around the tall

By placing point-like elements off-center,

By defining the edges of the plaza with

Mysterious patterns carved into the

Natural stones are arranged as if cutting

presence of the step serves as an

trees. The steel edging serves to

the space is made asymmetrical,

block stones, the design brings a sense

garden path. Though they resemble

across straight lines. Placed so that they

element that encourages people to make

highlight the tall trees as elements that

creating an unbalanced composition.

of shape to the vast, open space.

letters, they are indecipherable—and as

straddle the boundary lines, these

it their own space.

define the space.

you walk along the path, they spark your

stones sit as if they had been there long

imagination, making you wonder, “What

before the design was conceived. Even

could this be?”

in an artificially created space, they give the impression that natural elements hold the upper hand.

31 May 2026 17:00 Japan

jotarokato11@gmail.com