Founded in 1616 in Choshi, Chiba, Higeta Shoyu Co., Ltd. is among the oldest soy sauce makers in Japan. In the Edo period, during the flourishing Genroku era, the company introduced wheat into the brewing process in 1697, creating the prototype of dark soy sauce. This innovation transformed Japanese food culture, defining the taste of Edo and shaping the culinary foundation of Tokyo. For the exceptional flavor of its soy sauce, Higeta was awarded the highest title of honor by the Tokugawa Shogunate, establishing its legacy as a cultural leader in flavor and tradition.
The new headquarters expresses this history and spirit through its facade design. Golden louvers evoke a vast wheat field heavy with grain, recalling the key ingredient that symbolized Higeta’s innovation. Their shimmering movement simulates the breezes that might have blown here over 400 years ago, creating a visual impression like a noren curtain gently swaying. In this way, the facade inherits history and culture architecturally while presenting a contemporary vision for the company’s future.
The building is a seven-story reinforced concrete structure with a slender form, organized around a central light court that brings daylight and natural ventilation into the interiors. The walls of this court are finished in “Higeta Yellow,” so that light and color permeate rooms, subtly infusing the workplace with symbolic vibrancy. The entrance hall features a narrow slit of yellow light, a symbolic incision that evokes both historical depth and forward momentum. Together, these spatial elements create a dynamic experience of tradition and innovation.
Signage planning and environmental graphics reinterpret the circular construction of wooden brewing barrels, transforming functional requirements into tactile expressions of cultural continuity. More than a workplace, the new headquarters weaves history, material, and identity into a distinctive architectural system, ensuring that Higeta’s story continues to resonate across generations.