Located in the heart of Tsuruoka City, near Tsuruoka Park, **Syogin Tact Tsuruoka (Tsuruoka City Cultural Hall)** was completed in 2017 and held its grand opening in 2018.
More than just a concert hall, this facility has drawn international attention as an architectural masterpiece.
We’ll delve into the appeal of this place—visited by architecture fans from around the world and serving citizens as a hub for cultural activities—through the lenses of architecture, music, and tourism.
🏛 Basic Information on **Sogin Tact Tsuruoka**
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Official Name: **Tsuruoka City Cultural Hall**
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Nickname: **Sogin Tact Tsuruoka** (naming rights acquired by Shonai Bank)
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Address: **11-61 Babachō, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture**
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Completed: August 2017
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Grand Opening: **March 18, 2018** (inaugural performance by the NHK Symphony Orchestra)
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Main Hall: **1,120 seats** (vineyard-style seating)
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Also includes: **Small Hall, Practice Rooms, Conference Rooms, and Exhibition Spaces**
About a 10-minute bus ride from Tsuruoka Station, get off at “Shiyakusho-mae” (City Hall stop) and it’s right there. Conveniently located next to popular sightseeing spots such as Chidōkan and Tsuruoka Park, it also serves as an ideal base for strolling around the city.
🌍 Designed by the World-Renowned Architectural Unit SANAA
1. What is SANAA?
SANAA (Sejima and Nishizawa and Associates)is an architectural unit founded in 1995 by **Kazuyo Sejima** and **Ryue Nishizawa**.
Their name is recognized worldwide, and they have received numerous prestigious awards in the field of architecture.
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Pritzker Prize (2010)
Awarded the world’s most prestigious honor in architecture, often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Architecture.” -
RIBA Royal Gold Medal (2025)
An award presented by the Royal Institute of British Architects in recognition of a lifetime’s work. SANAA joins the ranks of greats such as Le Corbusier and Zaha Hadid. -
Golden Lion Award at the Venice Biennale (2004)
Awarded for their acclaimed work on the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa.
SANAA’s architecture is characterized by:
* Light and transparent design
* Harmony with the environment
* Designing the flow of people
Sogin Tact Tsuruoka is one of their important works that reflects these principles.
2. Who is Kazuyo Sejima?
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Born in 1956, from Ibaraki Prefecture.
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After working at Toyo Ito & Associates, she established her own firm, Kazuyo Sejima & Associates, in 1987.
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She became the **first Japanese woman to receive the Pritzker Prize**, a truly historic achievement on the global stage.
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She is known for her delicate yet innovative designs and is internationally respected as a pioneering female architect.
Her architecture is characterized by transparency, lightness, and spaces that connect people with their environment.
Rather than overwhelming the viewer, her works envelop like air—offering both gentleness and a subtle sense of tension.
This philosophy is strongly reflected in the glass and roof design of Sogin Tact Tsuruoka.
3. In Comparison with SANAA’s Other Major Works…
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21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa (Ishikawa)
A circular glass structure, world-renowned as a “museum open to the public.” -
Louvre-Lens (France)
A branch of the Louvre Museum, featuring a transparent design that blends seamlessly with the horizon. -
**Rolex Learning Center (Switzerland)
An innovative facility where the undulating, wave-like floor turns the entire space into a place for learning.
Standing alongside these masterpieces is Shogin Tact Tsuruoka, right here in Tsuruoka.
Many are surprised—“Wait, not in Paris or Switzerland, but in Tsuruoka?”
—that such a work of international significance is found here!
🔍 Architectural Highlights
① Clustered Roof Design
The form of multiple small roofs overlapping evokes the mountain ranges of Mt. Gassan and Mt. Chōkai, which surround Tsuruoka.
It is designed not to stand out too assertively, but to blend harmoniously with the surrounding nature and historic landscape.
② Light and Transparency
The glass exterior reflects the greenery of Tsuruoka Park and the castle moat, creating a seamless connection between inside and outside.
By day, the space is filled with natural light; by night, the interior glows through the glass, offering a beautiful illuminated presence.
③ Openness and Connectivity of Space
The foyer curves outward, connecting seamlessly with the exterior, and with every step the lines of sight shift in new directions.
The architecture itself becomes an **experiential design**, offering discoveries as you walk through it.
④ Acoustic Design
The main hall, designed by Nagata Acoustics, adopts a vineyard-style seating arrangement. With the stage surrounded by the audience, it offers an immersive experience and maximizes the resonance of live classical music.
🎨 Appeal as a Hub for Arts and Culture
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The main hall’s stage curtain, titled “Suijin” (Water God), was created by Japanese painter Hiroshi Senju and features a waterfall motif.
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It hosts **community-participation operas, choral competitions, and nationwide performances** such as those by the Shiki Theatre Company.
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It also stages **concerts by famous musicians** as well as a variety of theatrical performances.
🏆 **High Recognition at Home and Abroad**
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**International Recognition:** In 2025, SANAA received the **RIBA Royal Gold Medal**, with **Sogin Tact Tsuruoka** highlighted as one of their representative works.
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**Domestic Recognition:** Awarded the **Regional Creation Prize (Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Award) in 2024**, in recognition of its community-rooted activities and citizen collaboration initiatives.
📈 **Impact on Tourism and the Local Community**
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The hall welcomes **around 90,000 visitors annually**. Tourism from outside the city has increased, creating ripple effects on dining, accommodation, and transportation.
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Combined with Tsuruoka’s status as a **UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy**, it has become a tourism resource where visitors can experience both **food and culture**.
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By visiting together with the **castle park** and the **Chidō Museum**, it enhances walkability and creates a richer city-strolling experience.
🐇 For your stay, **Guesthouse Watausagi** is highly recommended.
If you’re visiting Tsuruoka for its architecture tours or concert experiences, **Guesthouse Watausagi** is a great choice for accommodation.
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It’s within **walking distance from Sogin Tact Tsuruoka**.
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An **exchange space where you can meet travelers from all around the world**.
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A place where you can **experience local life while sharing conversations about architecture and culture**.
Many architecture enthusiasts also stay at **Watausagi**.
Spend the day experiencing the architecture of Sogin Tact, and the evening sharing stories with fellow travelers at Watausagi.
This is the kind of special time that only Watausagi can offer.
✨ Summary
Sogin Tact Tsuruoka attracts design and architecture lovers from all over the world.
The reason is…
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It is one of the representative works of the world-renowned architectural unit **SANAA**.
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An experiential hall where **architecture, acoustics, and cultural activities** are seamlessly integrated.
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Highly acclaimed both in Japan and abroad, it stands as a **symbol of local culture**.
There is a unique charm to Sogin Tact Tsuruoka—something that cannot be conveyed through photos or blueprints alone—found only in the way it stands within the cityscape.
It is not just architecture to *look at*, but architecture that is completed through an **experiential journey**—by walking, sitting, listening to the sound, and feeling the light.
When visiting Tsuruoka, be sure to enjoy **Sogin Tact** together with **Watausagi**.
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