Designed by the Japanese master in the 1950s and completed in 1964, the gymnasium has become an iconic piece of architecture, reinterpreting the traditional forms of Japanese wooden boats.

In 2014, the building was closed to the public due to a leaking roof, and since then, lack of funding and the complexity of a restoration project have threatened its demolition.

The local architectural community, led by Noriyuki Kawanishi, launched a petition to save the building, which has gathered around 4000 signatures to date.

The case of the Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium follows the recent demolition of the Nakagin Capsule Tower, an iconic metabolist residential building in Tokyo designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa.
This is a situation that opens up a broader reflection on the theme of the preservation of modern architecture and that requires the involvement and interest of international architectural culture.