In Japan, there is less a culture of preserving old buildings than in Europe.

Since I am a Japanese man who's been building through the experience of Japanese architecture, my actual designs come from Japanese architectural concepts, although they're based on Western methods and materials.

In Italy, there are so many significant architectural structures in history such as the Pantheon in Rome, or the Duomo.

I want to create a space that moves people. It doesn't matter if it is a house, or a museum, or whatever. So, it is somebody sitting on that lawn, just going around and around and feeling really happy. That is something that I'm striving for.

Working in Tokyo has convinced me that, contrary to what people think, it is actually one of the world's most beautiful cities.

In Architecture there is a part that is the result of Logical Reasoning and a part that is created through the Senses. There is always a point where they Clash. I don't think Architecture can be created without that Collision.

There is a role and function for beauty in our time.