RHWhat about the so-called “dango system” in Japan, where big construction companies get together and secretly fix prices for public works projects?  

JAIt is part of our dilemma. On one hand, you have the highest work ethics when it comes to the precision of constructing. On the other hand, we have morally wrong attitudes when it comes to business. Of course, one could say the dango system guarantees the high quality of Japanese construction because quality comes with a price. But, then again, we don’t know any different because dango makes it impossible for many other qualified companies to compete and participate in the bidding.

RHBesides that, can you give an example of a mistake that has been repeated in the history of Japanese architecture?

JASuch a mistake would be to accommodate in a building only one specific purpose. Let’s say there is a school, or a museum, or restaurant. If the purpose of the building changes years later, even if it is a wonderful building, it will most likely be destroyed. I want to change that; I want a school that can be turned into a museum or restaurant without destruction. Look at animals: the environment changes and then animals adapt and change, too. If they don’t, they die 　 like buildings in Japan.