Photo © Mitsuya Okumura for approach

Gallaudet University and DeafSpace (Spring 2025)

Photo © Takashi Mochizuki for approach

The Agricultural and Architectural Heritage of Koiwai Farm (Summer 2025)

Photo © Koji Horiuchi for approach

The Pride of Uchiko: Town, Villages, Community (Autumn 2025)

Since 1964, COSMO has been providing editorial services for Takenaka Corporation’s quarterly magazine approach, which has been running for over 60 years. Guided by the belief that “architecture can only exist as a part of people’s lives, history, culture, and art,” each issue explores a wide range of topics including architecture, urban development, history, culture, education, and the environment through original photography and texts written by featured authors. By examining themes that retain their relevance across generations, approach seeks to share ideas that resonate with society. It aims to create content that sparks dialogue and inspires broader social movements.

Feature Themes
[Japan]
Oki Dozen: Tales of Transformation on the Remote Isles (Winter 2024) / The Agricultural Landscapes of Takachihogo-Shiibayama: Honoring biodiversity and cultural heritage (Summer 2024) / The Architectural Perspectives of Yoshiro Taniguchi and Yoshio Taniguchi (Spring 2024)

[Overseas]
Schönbrunn Zoo: Modern Day Animal Welfare in an Historical Setting (Autumn 2024) / Switzerland’s Close-to-Nature Forests (Summer 2023) / Romanesque Churches of France: Pilgrimage and Prayer (Spring 2021)

Contributing Authors
Shuji Takashina / Riichi Miyake / Seiichi Washida / Terunobu Fujimori / Shinichi Nakazawa / Nozomu Hayashi / and many others

Photographers
Yasuhiro Ishimoto / Osamu Murai / Mitsumasa Fujitsuka / Koji Horiuchi / Mitsuya Okumura / Kazuyoshi Miyoshi / Takashi Mochizuki / Aya Fujioka / Naoki Ishikawa / and many others

Art Directors
Ikko Tanaka (Issues No. 1–157) / Tetsuya Ota (Issues No. 158–232) / Osamu Ouchi (Issues No. 233–present)

Cover Artists
Kazutsugu Iijima (Issues No. 1–28) / Ryuichi Yamashiro (Issues No. 29–36) / Yasuhiro Ishimoto (Issues No. 37–200) / Aoi Huber (Issues No. 201–236) / Teppei Soutome (Issues No. 237–present)

Awards
Grand Prize, National PR Magazine Competition (1965) / Bronze Prize, ADC Awards (1967) / Excellence Award, National Poster & Catalog Exhibition (1967) / Grand Prize, I.C.I.E (1969) / High Standard Sustained Achievement Award, National PR Magazine Competition (1982) / Excellence Award, The Corporate Mécénat Council’s Mécénat Award (2016)

Specifications
Letter size; 28 to 32 pages; Japanese print and e-book versions, English e-book versions

*Past issues can be viewed on Takenaka Corporation’s website.

COSMO has been supporting Kikkoman with editorial services for its English quarterly newsletter food forum since 1997—more than 25 years. The publication introduces Japanese food culture to readers around the world from a variety of perspectives. Its articles explore a wide range of themes, including the history of Japanese cuisine, dietary habits, emerging trends, cooking techniques, and kitchen tools. food forum presents traditional Japanese cuisine in connection with the philosophy and cultural context that shape it. Each year, the newsletter focuses on a specific theme related to Japanese food, publishing four in-depth feature articles as a series. Every issue also includes new recipes using Kikkoman Soy Sauce, accompanied by photography introducing original recipes.

Supervisors
Isao Kumakura (Professor Emeritus, National Museum of Ethnology and Director, MIHO MUSEUM)
Michiko Yamamoto (Fifth-generation Owner, Murakami Kaishindo)

Feature Themes
Sushi / Rice / Japanese Feasts for Special Occasions / Japanese Kitchen Tools / Japanese Tea / Japanese Noodles / Annual Events and Traditions / Washoku and Health / Sake in Japanese Food Culture / Japanese Fusion Cuisine / Traditional Japanese Confectionary Wagashi

Specifications
A4 size; 8 pages

Seventy Years of Nippon Electric Glass: Process & Product

Sixty Years of Nippon Electric Glass: Process & Product

Commissioned by Nippon Electric Glass, a world-leading manufacturer of specialty glass, COSMO planned, edited, and designed the commemorative book which documented the company’s technological achievements and history for its 70th anniversary in 2019. It was published in both Japanese and English.

COSMO has created commemorative books for Nippon Electric Glass every decade since its 40th anniversary in 1989, including the 50th, 60th and, 70th anniversaries. Photographs capturing the precise moment of glass melting and changing forms present the specialty glass manufacturing process as a form of art.

These publications were distributed to employees in Japan and at overseas subsidiaries, as well as to affiliated companies, local communities, and business partners so that stakeholders would understand the company’s past, present and, aims for the future.

Contributors (Authors / Dialogue Participants)
[ 70th anniversary book ]
Alicia Durán / Yukio Noguchi / Taikan Oki / Jian-Yong Di / Yuji Ikegaya / Hiroshi Matsumoto
[ 60th anniversary book ]
Yukiko Kada / Itaru Yasui / L. David Pye / Hiroshi Harashima / Susumu Noda
[ 50th anniversary book ]
Toshitaka Hidaka / Shunsuke Kobayashi / Junichi Nishizawa / Hisao Koyama / Shunji Furukawa

Photographers
Yasuhiro Ishimoto / Takashi Hatakeyama / Chikao Todoroki / Masato Sudo

Art Direction
Tetsuya Ota (40th, 50th, 60th anniversary books)
Yudai Yoshimura (70th anniversary book)

Awards
Special Prize, PR Magazine Category,
31st Japan BtoB Advertising Awards (2009)

Specifications
Letter size; 164 pages