The International House of Japan
Visualizing accumulated knowledge as a coherent structure
Since its establishment in 1952, the International House of Japan has fostered mutual understanding through international intellectual exchange, creating spaces for dialogue that transcend disciplines and perspectives.  As its activities expanded, a wide range of research fields and programs developed over time. At the same time, a key challenge emerged: how to structure and communicate the underlying philosophy that unifies them on the web. In this project, we integrated multiple fragmented websites and research domains, redesigning them not simply as a better-organized collection of information, but as a framework that conveys the ideas and context behind them. By reinterpreting individual activities not as isolated points, but as relationships connected to an overarching vision, we made visible the form of knowledge that the International House of Japan seeks to cultivate.
Challenges
Fragmented websites across research fields and an increasingly complex information structure
Guided by its vision of serving as a hub of intellectual exchange in the Asia-Pacific, the International House of Japan has developed a diverse range of research fields and activities across disciplines. However, these activities were dispersed across separate websites organized by research field, each existing as an independent body of information. Over time, the continued expansion of activities and long-term site operation also made both the volume of information and the site structure increasingly complex. As a result, it became difficult to grasp the overall picture of its activities and the connections between different fields. Consequently, knowledge that should have been understood as continuous was instead perceived as fragmented, making it difficult to fully convey the institution’s philosophy and value as a hub of intellectual exchange.
Solutions
Transforming scattered knowledge into cross-disciplinary understanding
Rather than simply reorganizing information, we approached the project by redesigning the structure itself. We integrated previously dispersed research fields and activities, reconstructing them not as standalone pieces of information, but as an interconnected system of relationships. By enabling multiple domains to connect across disciplines, the site was redesigned so that the International House of Japan’s activities could be understood within a single, coherent context. Building on this structure, we also designed user pathways to improve searchability and navigation, creating an environment in which users can more easily access information based on their interests. Exploring the site itself became an experience that naturally leads to broader, cross-disciplinary understanding.
Results
Making the International House of Japan’s activities visible as a structure
Programs and research fields are now understood not as isolated points, but as relationships within a larger whole, allowing the International House of Japan’s vision to be communicated consistently throughout the site. As users explore individual pieces of information, they can naturally understand how each area connects to others and the philosophy that underpins these activities. As a result, the website now gives form to what the International House of Japan stands for as a hub of knowledge: a place where different fields and ideas intersect to generate new value.
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