Seminar Field Trip on 8–9 November 2026
The two-day seminar field trip to Sendai and Matsushima offered students an opportunity to explore the relationship between architecture, public space, local culture and regional recovery in the Tohoku region. With the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 as an important point of reference, the programme encouraged students to consider how places change over time, how communities maintain their identity and how everyday life is connected to broader processes of urban and regional transformation. Our first stop was Sendai, where students were introduced to the city’s regional specialities and local food culture. We then visited Sendai Mediatheque, designed by internationally renowned architect Toyo Ito. Rather than simply appreciating the building as an architectural landmark, students were encouraged to examine how its distinctive structure, openness and spatial organisation create opportunities for public interaction and cultural activities.
Sendai Mediatheque
In the evening, we explored the illuminated city centre and observed how people occupied and experienced public space after dark. Despite the cold weather, the area was lively and crowded. One particularly interesting observation was the number of people playing Pokémon GO, demonstrating how digital technologies can introduce new forms of interaction and activity into the urban environment. The evening offered a valuable opportunity to consider public space not simply as a physical setting, but as something continuously shaped through people’s everyday practices.
On the second day, despite the rain, we travelled to Matsushima, one of the region’s most distinctive coastal landscapes. Our visits to the local fish market and several islands provided insights into the relationship between the natural environment, specific local industries, the recovery of the tourism sector after 2011 and the regional identity. We also explored the historic Entsūin Temple, experiencing its cultural and spiritual heritage and the beautiful autumn foliage. A hands-on craft activity offered students another way to engage with local traditions and the cultural character of the area.
Entsūin Temple, Matsushima
An important objective of the trip was to develop students’ practical fieldwork skills. Using the seminar fieldwork material, students were encouraged to move beyond passive sightseeing and engage actively with their surroundings. They practised observing the physical environment, documenting people’s activities and the use of space, taking photographs that captured meaningful details, and formulating questions based on what they encountered. They also identified particular features that attracted their attention and considered what these might reveal about the wider character of a place. Students were further encouraged to collect keywords and ideas connected to their individual research interests and to recognise possible links between direct observation, academic literature and their developing research questions. This process helped them understand that fieldwork is not simply about collecting information, but about learning to observe critically, question assumptions and interpret the relationship between people and places.
Overall, the trip provided a valuable opportunity to connect classroom discussions with real-world observations. From contemporary architecture and the everyday use of urban public space in Sendai to the cultural landscape, local activities and post-disaster recovery context of Matsushima, students gained a more nuanced understanding of how places are shaped by history, social practices and ongoing change. Most importantly, they experienced how curiosity, careful observation and asking the right questions form the starting point of meaningful research. Stay tuned for the part II fieldtrip to Fukushima.