September 9, 2026
 TANGE ASSOCIATES

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those involved in the Committee for the Regeneration of the Former Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium; to everyone who believed in the value of this building and stood up as plaintiffs; to the people of Kagawa Prefecture who have shown such strong support, and to everyone in Japan and around the world who has been following the developments in this matter with concern and interest.

The Takamatsu District Court has now ordered a one-month suspension of demolition work, beginning September 15, in connection with an on-site investigation to assess the building’s seismic performance for the purpose of preserving evidence. I take this decision as an important first step toward protecting the building’s cultural value.

At the same time, however, I cannot help but feel a profound sense of conflict and frustration. This is because Kagawa Prefecture’s current push for demolition is being justified solely on the basis of the seismic assessment that TANGE ASSOCIATES conducted in 2012 at the request of the Prefecture.

The seismic assessment we undertook at that time was by no means a “license to demolish.” It was carried out as the starting point for a plan to renovate and reinforce the building so that its rare architectural and cultural value could be preserved and the building could continue to be used safely for many years to come. We conducted the assessment in the belief that objectively identifying seismic issues and implementing appropriate reinforcement—thereby passing this cultural asset on to future generations—would serve the cultural and social good.

We are grateful that, following the assessment, Kagawa Prefecture took the time to consider how the building might be put to use. However, as soon as the Prefecture determined that the path toward regeneration would be difficult, it relied on our assessment as its sole primary source and concluded that the building should be demolished because it posed a risk of collapse. I fundamentally disagree with using the findings of our assessment as the basis for such a conclusion.

What our assessment demonstrated was the nature of the challenges presented by the building in its existing condition. It did not state that the building was in imminent danger of collapse, nor that reinforcement was impossible. Just as it is impossible in architecture to guarantee that any building will “never collapse,” it is equally impossible to make the extreme assertion that a building is “imminently at risk of collapse” without appropriate grounds. Indeed, leading experts in structural engineering have also made objective technical observations that there is no danger requiring the building to be demolished immediately.

We fully respect the fundamental principle asserted by the Prefecture—that the lives and safety of the people of Kagawa must be protected. However, once this building is demolished, the possibility of preserving and regenerating this invaluable work of world-class architecture will be permanently reduced to zero.

The one-month suspension of demolition work and the on-site investigation provide an excellent opportunity to return to the original purpose with which Kagawa Prefecture entrusted us, and to resume an open discussion based on objective facts. Rather than proceeding on the assumption that demolition is inevitable, I sincerely hope that a process of discussion and explanation will be undertaken that the people of Kagawa—and people around the world—can genuinely understand and accept.

I do not want to see this architectural treasure of the modern era lost in a manner that is contrary to its true value and potential. As an architect, and as someone who understands both the aspirations of my father, Kenzo Tange, and the value of this architecture, I sincerely appeal to everyone for your help.