Antonín Raymond in Japan (1948–1976)

A study of the Raymond architectural studio’s work to help rebuild Japan after WWII.

Antonín Raymond in Japan examines the life and work of Noémi (1889––1980) and Antonín Raymond (1888–1976) and other architects within their firm tasked with rebuilding Japan after World War II. The recorded recollections of seven members of the Japanese Raymond studio depict the personalities of the Raymonds, comment on their work, and describe relationships with elite clients. Some of the almost two hundred illustrations in the book are published here for the first time, as little research has previously been conducted into Noémi Raymond’s work until now. The Reader's Digest building in Tokyo, the Gunma Prefecture Music Center, and the Czechoslovak Embassy in Tokyo are discussed in detail. The book opens with Helena Capková’s study of the pre-war activities of Raymond’s company, with a focus on maintaining contacts during the Second World War. It closes with Irena Veverková's text about Antonín Raymond's contacts with Czechoslovakia after 1945.