About
Living weaves landscape
Vision
Creating landscapes
where fūdo and culture
rooted in place take form
Fūdo—a cultural concept unique to Japan—
refers to the cultivation of the soil and the shaping of the landscape.
Mission
From sustainability
to regenerative living
in symbiosis with nature.
Living in a place enriches both the environment and the community.
Through symbiosis with nature, we cultivate, sustain,
and carry fūdo forward.
Challenges
We are losing our capacity
to cultivate fūdo.
-
Toward a right-sized way of living
Communities must adapt to sustainable scales.
-
Reclaiming the economy through living
Living itself must generate value.
-
From dependence to self-reliance
Communities must shift toward self-reliant ways of living.
Action
Redefining symbiotic living
—shaping landscapes
and culture rooted in place Rooted Culture
-
01.Water and soil cycles × The foundation of landscape
We work with natural water and soil cycles, preserving the land’s inherent structure.
-
02.Energy independence × The landscape of living
We create decentralized systems where self-reliant living shapes the landscape.
-
03.Regenerative landscapes and agriculture × Cultural landscape
We restore ecosystems through cultivation, and culture emerges from the relationship between people and nature.
-
04.Memory and livelihood × The formation of a culture of place
We circulate materials and skills, sustaining a culture rooted in place.
Philosophy
Learning from nature,
enriching fūdo
By learning from nature, we reinterpret the land,
materials, and wisdom it holds. Through living,
we create cycles in which nature and the
economy flow together. Through these practices,
landscapes take shape where fūdo and place-
based culture can flourish.
Team
-
Yumiko Sakano
CEO / Licensed first-class Architect
-
Ichino Hayashi
Asuka Kanemaru
Licensed Second-class Architect
Founder
Yumiko Sakano
Registered Architect Founded S PLUS ONE Architects in 2009.Based in rural Yamanashi, surrounded by the vineyards of her childhood, her work explores ways of living that honor the industries and cultures woven through daily life,while seeking symbiosis with nature.
2025 Good Design Award | KIZUKI
Yamanashi Prefecture Architecture and Culture Award, Honorable Mention| KIZUKI
Kukan Design Award, Shortlist | 98beers/KIZUKI
2023 Yamanashi Prefecture Architecture and Culture Award, Honorable Mention | Ku-ra
2021 Yamanashi Prefecture Architecture and Culture Award, Honorable Mention | Ebisuya
2020 Good Design Award | 98WINEs
Kukan Design Award, Shortlist | 98WINEs
2016 Good Design Award | Sugi house Matsu house
2010 Kyoai Gakuen University of International Studies - Building 4 Design Proposal,
Company Profile
-
Company Name
S PLUS ONE Architects Inc.
-
Established
2009 (Incorporated in 2021)
-
Representative Director
Yumiko Sakano (First-Class Registered Architect)
-
Office Location
1562-3 Katsunuma, Katsunuma, Koshu, Yamanashi, Japan 409-1316,
-
License / Registration
First-Class Registered Architects Office:
Yamanashi Governor Registration No. (Ri) 1-032058 -
Business Operations
Architectural design and construction supervision
Interior design for retail/commercial spaces and furniture design
Planning and production of product designs
Planning, design, and production of various events
Consulting services for facilities and regional development
Publishing related to architecture
All business activities incidental to the above categories
Operation of lodging facilities and rental kitchen spaces.”
Travel Agency Business under the Travel Agency Act
Access
Office
1562-3 Katsunuma, Katsunuma-town, Koshu-city, Yamanashi, Japan 409-1316,
Recruit
Creating sustainable spaces that enrich the community
S PLUS ONE Architects Inc. is a Yamanashi-based design firm. Our mission is to create spaces that bring joy to the local community and to build a collective of architects who can thrive both individually and as a team. We actively utilize local resources and collaborate with regional artisans to engage in sustainable regional design—spanning products, furniture, and interiors—beyond the traditional framework of architecture.
-
Open Position
Design Assistant
Please apply by attaching your CV to this e-mail .
mail@splusone.jp
Location / Contact: 1562-3 Katsunuma, Katsunuma, Koshu, Yamanashi, 409-1316, Japan
Attn:Yumiko Sakano Email: mail@splusone.jp