a+u’s January issue traces the extraordinary achievements by women architects in Japan and examines dwelling studies as a unique approach to the design of environments, centered upon living and relationship among people. The field began as a curriculum on ＂clothing, food, and housing＂ established at Japan Women’s University’s Department of Home Economics at the turn of the 20th century and has played a profound role in the education of women architects in Japan. Masako Hayashi, Nobuko Ogawa, Kazuyo Sejima, Satoko Shinohara, Kazuko Akamatsu are some of the representative figures. Fellow graduate and the issue’s guest editor Momoyo Kaijima defines dwelling studies as an open ended approach to design that focuses on the exchange between inhabitants and designers to create spaces that embrace individuality. While dwelling studies was born within the unique institutional setting of Japan Women’s University in the midst of tumultuous social change, it has continued to enable the contemplation and realization of the contemporary. Text in English and Japanese.