Kazuyo

Kazuyo is a feminine given name of Japanese origin. Like many Japanese names, its meaning depends on the kanji characters used to write it, and there are several possible spellings in kanji. In romanized form, the name is typically written as Kazuyo.

A notable bearer of the name is Kazuyo Sejima, a prominent Japanese architect born in 1956. She co-founded the architecture firm SANAA with Ryue Nishizawa and has been influential in contemporary architecture through projects characterized by light, transparency, and minimalist forms. Notable works attributed to Sejima and SANAA include the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, which opened in 2004, and the Rolex Learning Center at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. In 2010, Sejima and Nishizawa were awarded the Pritzker Prize, architecture’s highest honor, recognizing their innovative approach and international impact.

In broader use, Kazuyo remains primarily a Japanese name and is most common within Japan or among Japanese communities abroad. Outside Japan, it is relatively uncommon, and individuals with the name may be encountered in various professional fields or in cultural contexts related to Japan. As with many Japanese given names, the exact meaning of Kazuyo varies with its kanji spelling.