Q: How does a typical working day begin for you? A: Ito begins his day early, working from his house at around 5 am, a time when he finds his ideas to be clearest. He engages in sketching and developing ideas before heading to his office in Shibuya in the early afternoon​​.

Q: Do you let your staff work on their own in the morning? A: Yes, Ito believes it’s better for him to be away from the office in the morning, allowing younger staff to work independently without feeling overly supervised by their boss​​.

Q: How many staff do you have, and what is their age range? A: His office comprises about 40 architects, ranging in age from 20 to 30 years old, with some senior architects in their 40s​​.

Q: Why is your office based in Shibuya? A: Ito’s office has been in Shibuya for over a quarter of a century, mainly for its convenience, such as proximity to stores like Tokyu Hands and accessibility to transportation​​.

Q: How do you involve young architects in the design process? A: Young architects are actively involved in the design process. Ito sets the overall concept and direction, then allows architects to work in groups, encouraging them to express their ideas and refine them through group discussions​​.

Q: Your works seem to blur the boundary between exterior and interior; why is that? A: Ito’s work, inspired by traditional Japanese architecture, aims to blur these boundaries, reflecting the Japanese language’s tendency to avoid definitive expressions and creating rich, adaptable internal spaces​​.

Q: What do you think is important for an architect today? A: Understanding and addressing societal needs is crucial for architects. Ito values this ability over technical drafting skills, highlighting the importance of human-centric design in architecture​​.