As the saying goes, “You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.”

We can’t let that happen to the Boat Gym.

 

The Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium was closed on September 30, 2014 due the need for seismic retrofitting and a lack of prospective bidders.

This historic building, however, is a unique example of modern Japanese architecture that should be preserved for future generations. Since its inauguration in 2014, the Association for the Revitalization of the Kagawa Boat Gym has been working to prevent its demolition and see that it is reused.

The World Monuments Fund (USA) selected the Boat Gym as a 2018 World Monument Watch Site, calling attention to the fact that it is an imperiled architectural heritage.

Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium | World Monuments Fund (wmf.org)

The likelihood that Kagawa Prefecture, the owner of the building, will decide to demolish it without public debate is increasingly high.

We therefore appeal to the prefectural government of Kagawa as follows:

1. Don’t demolish the Boat Gym. Remove the word ‘demolition’ when determining the building’s future.

2. Maintain and use the structure as much as possible.

3. Seek the opinions of a broad section of Kagawans concerning future use. Release detailed information to the public concerning the decision-making process and take a long-term view when determining the future direction.

Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium was designed by Kenzo Tange (1913-2005), the first internationally-recognized Japanese architect. Completed in 1964, the same year as the first Tokyo Olympics, the Boat Gym is considered one of Tange’s signature works along with the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Yoyogi National Gymnasium, and the Kagawa Prefectural Office East Building. Despite having been designed 50 years ago, the Boat Gym continues to attract observers from Japan and abroad.

When we heard the shocking news that the government was considering demolishing this historic site, we revisited the gymnasium to contemplate what the building means to us and to future generations of Kagawa.

It became clear that the Boat Gym is invaluable not only as a historic masterpiece representing Tange’s legacy, but also as a unique part of local history that has impacted the lives and shaped the memories of the local people. Within this context, we identified further possibilities.

1. As A Local Symbol

Known affectionately as the Boat Gym by local people because its shape is reminiscent of traditional Japanese boats, the gymnasium has become a symbol of Kagawa, a prefecture known for excellence in art and design.

2. As A Sports Hall of Fame

The Boat Gym served as the stage for many aspiring athletes. Students flocked here from all over the prefecture to compete and qualify for national competitions, and it represents a hall of fame for half a century of local sports.

3. As A Public Space

The gymnasium lobby and grounds were open to the public. Anyone could stroll around the grounds, or walk inside to sit on the sofa in the lobby and gaze out at the ponds or chat with people they met. It was a natural part of the landscape and of people’s daily lives.

4. As An Example of Postwar Architecture Reflecting Japan’s Rapid Economic Growth

Thousands Takamatsu citizens died in the air raids of World War II and much of the city was razed by the resultant fires, destroying the historical townscape. After the war, the charred and blackened city began to pick up the pieces . To the local people, the construction of such a monumental gymnasium must have seemed like a beacon of hope for the future. It remains a powerful icon that continues to inspire the imagination.

5. As A Dramatic Architectural Space

The eaves soar majestically upwards above the welcoming glass façade of the gymnasium entrance. The arena is located on the 3rd floor, and its symmetric curved ceiling generates excitement and elation before competitions and ceremonies. The seats rise from the same level as the arena floor in a rare design that unites athletes with the spectators.

As spectators and athletes passed through the high-vaulted entrance hall and up the gently curved staircases on either side of the lobby, they left behind their everyday lives and climbed with anticipation towards the place of competition. The dramatic experience of moving from the world of the ordinary to the extraordinary left an indelible impression on all those who used the building, and the architectural features that produced this effect can be utilized for other purposes.

6. As the Crystallization of Architectural Technology

It is not easy to construct curved buildings of reinforced concrete, even with highly-developed contemporary architectural technologies. The accuracy and proficiency of each individual craftsman involved in constructing the gymnasium is astounding, especially when we consider that it was designed more than fifty years ago before the introduction of computers and calculators. The use of finely curved concrete molds made from planks of Japanese cedar, the scraped limestone finish on concrete walls, the window frames and fixtures perfectly fitted into undressed concrete: all of these demonstrate a level of skill and expertise that is hard to find today. The building is worth preserving as a means of passing on these extraordinary architectural techniques alone. And if the gymnasium is successfully improved and reutilized, the expertise of a generation of craftsmen will be transformed into a new architectural space.

7. As a Tange Masterpiece

Kenzo Tange designed two signature works in Kagawa Prefecture: the Kagawa Prefectural Government Office, East Building, and the Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium. The former, which was built in the 1950s, demonstrates Tange’s use of traditional Japanese architectural features, such as post-and-beam construction, in modern architectural design. The gymnasium, which was built in the 1960s, was an exploration of how to produce a large space with reinforced concrete and served as a model for the Yoyogi National Gymnasium, considered to be Tange’s crowning work. Both the prefectural office and the gymnasium embody the profound themes Tange pursued in his work as a leader of modern Japanese architecture. The existence of two Tange works, each of a different style, in the same city is a precious cultural heritage for the world and for the history of modern architecture. As such, they are a promising tourism resource for the prefecture.

8. As A Public Building Loved by Local Citizens

Everyone who has ever used the gym as well as those for whom it is a familiar part of the landscape are drawn to it as something more than just a public building. The government’s announcement that it was considering demolition attracted much attention, and public concern for the building’s future continues to rise. The Association for the Revitalization of the Kagawa Boat Gym received more than 2,000 “Likes” in the past three months after launching our Facebook page.

The destruction of this iconic and invaluable building will be an irretrievable loss. This enormous vessel, launched while Japan was still struggling to rise from the ashes of World War II, a symbol of dreams and future possibilities, has lost its way. We cannot let it sink. Instead we must rediscover its value, replace its sails and set it off towards a new destination. Please join this movement to preserve and reutilize this treasure by adding your name.