Kengo Kuma is a Japanese architect known for redefining the relationship between buildings, nature, and materials. Born in Yokohama in 1954, he studied architecture at the University of Tokyo and later conducted research at Columbia University. In 1990, he founded Kengo Kuma & Associates, which now operates globally with offices in Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, and Paris. His work focuses on natural materials, lightness, and blending architecture with its surroundings. Notable projects include the Japan National Stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the V&A Dundee in Scotland. In addition to his practice, Kuma has held academic positions at Keio University and the University of Tokyo, where he serves as a professor. His contributions to architecture have earned him numerous awards, including the Architectural Institute of Japan Award and the Officier de L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France.