Retro Japan in Photos: Sculptor's self-designed 1935 atelier studded with his worldview

Sunlight coming through the south side window shines on sculptures at the studio at the Asakura Museum of Sculpture in Tokyo's Taito Ward on Jan. 27, 2022. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

The courtyard is seen below the uniquely shaped ornamental window at the Asakura Museum of Sculpture in Tokyo's Taito Ward on Jan. 27, 2022. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

Valuable books fill entire walls of shelves in the study at the Asakura Museum of Sculpture in Tokyo's Taito Ward on Jan. 27, 2022. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

A soft light pours in through the north side windows of the studio at the Asakura Museum of Sculpture in Tokyo's Taito Ward on Jan. 27, 2022. (Mainichi)

The exterior of the concrete studio section of the building is painted black, as seen in this photo taken at the Asakura Museum of Sculpture in Tokyo's Taito Ward on Jan. 27, 2022. Fumio Asakura (1883-1964), the sculpture who designed and used the building, made sure not to bother his neighbors with reflections of the sun off his building. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

Some books are seen in the study next to the studio at the Asakura Museum of Sculpture in Tokyo's Taito Ward on Jan. 27, 2022. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

The parquet floor of the studio creates beautiful patterns as seen at the Asakura Museum of Sculpture in Tokyo's Taito Ward on Jan. 27, 2022. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

A soft light pours in through a curved window on the north side of the studio at the Asakura Museum of Sculpture in Tokyo's Taito Ward on Jan. 27, 2022. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

A sculpture is seen at the studio at the Asakura Museum of Sculpture in Tokyo's Taito Ward on Jan. 27, 2022. Numerous artworks were created here by Fumio Asakura (1883-1964), the sculptor who designed and used this building. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

A fiber wall is seen in the studio at the Asakura Museum of Sculpture in Tokyo's Taito Ward on Jan. 27, 2022. Unlike an as-cast concrete wall, it creates a warm texture. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

A soft light pours in through a curved window on the north side of the studio at the Asakura Museum of Sculpture in Tokyo's Taito Ward on Jan. 27, 2022. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

The stairway in the studio section of the Asakura Museum of Sculpture is seen in Tokyo's Taito Ward on Jan. 27, 2022. Split bamboo is tightly arranged to cover some parts of the concrete surface. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

The handrail in the "ran no ma" (orchid room) is seen at the Asakura Museum of Sculpture in Tokyo's Taito Ward on Jan. 27, 2022. Fumio Asakura (1883-1964), the sculptor who taught himself architecture, employed unique designs in many parts of the building as seen in the handrail. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

The place where the wooden residence section, left, and the concrete studio section converge is seen at the Asakura Museum of Sculpture in Tokyo's Taito Ward on Jan. 27, 2022. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

The "ran no ma" (orchid room), which used to be a greenhouse to grow Eastern orchid plants, is seen in the studio section's second floor at the Asakura Museum of Sculpture in Tokyo's Taito Ward on Jan. 27, 2022. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

Stepping-stones are seen in the courtyard pond at the Asakura Museum of Sculpture in Tokyo's Taito Ward on Jan. 27, 2022. Fumio Asakura (1883-1964), the sculptor who designed and used the building, arranged the stones with deliberation. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

The courtyard is seen from the tearoom at the Asakura Museum of Sculpture in Tokyo's Taito Ward on Jan. 27, 2022. The garden looks differently depending on the season. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

The courtyard pond, surrounded by the studio and residence sections of the Asakura Museum of Sculpture, is seen in Tokyo's Taito Ward on Jan. 27, 2022. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

The "soshin no ma" (room of pure thoughts) is seen in the residence section of the Asakura Museum of Sculpture in Tokyo's Taito Ward on Jan. 27, 2022. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

A bookshelf is seen in the quiet study next to the studio at the Asakura Museum of Sculpture in Tokyo's Taito Ward on Jan. 27, 2022. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

The rooftop garden is seen at the Asakura Museum of Sculpture in Tokyo's Taito Ward on Jan. 27, 2022. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)

The exterior of the concrete studio section of the building is painted black, as seen in this photo taken at the Asakura Museum of Sculpture in Tokyo's Taito Ward on Jan. 27, 2022. Fumio Asakura (1883-1964), the sculpture who designed and used the building, made sure not to bother his neighbors with reflections of the sun off his building. (Mainichi/Akihiro Ogomori)