──”Children’s Book Forest Nakanoshima” (Osaka City), designed and donated by Mr. Tadao Ando for children of the next generation opened in July 2020. You also started “Children’s Book Forest Tono” in Tono City, Iwate Prefecture in July 2021 and “Children’s Book Forest Kobe” in Kobe City in March 2022. Do you think your upbringing had something to do with your passion to create “Libraries for children”?

Mr. Tadao Ando(“Mr. Ando”) 　I grew up in an old town in Osaka and was raised by my grandmother. There was nothing during my childhood that was cultural such as music, literature or paintings. I didn’t have the opportunity to read books either. Even after my childhood, as I was unable to go to college due to financial and academic problems, I worked hard to study architecture on my own. It was therefore only after I grew up that I discovered the joy and importance of reading. I regretted not having had the opportunity to experience literature or music during my childhood. That is why I strongly wish that children, that will eventually form the foundation of our society, to have the opportunity to come across as many books as possible from an early stage so that they can think freely and nurture their sensitivity. I wanted to create “Children’s Book Forest” for the future of the children.

──I heard that you saved up money through part time work to get on the Siberian Railway to go to travel in Europe on your own when you were 24 years old. I heard you went as far as travelling in Africa. What did the young Ando feel through this trip?

Mr. Ando　I truly understood that although the world is vast, it is universal in the end. My grandmother brought me up saying “There is no point holding on to money. You should use it to gain experience so that you gain something in your head or body. You should go abroad to experience various styles of living. Put all your energy into your life so that you have no regrets.” My grandmother was running a business in Tempozan, Osaka, but had her money confiscated after the war. She could, however, still somehow manage to earn a living and as a merchant, was also able to think about what to do next. Having grown up seeing her, I also have come to believe that even without money, one can still lead a richer life than someone with money. I also believed that as I was unable to go to college, I needed to study harder than those who had gone to college and worked hard as a result. You cannot die holding on to money. I therefore wish to return my money to the society.

──Your belief is reflected in the your architectures as well, isn’t it?

Mr. Ando　I try to place importance on my sense to co-exist with nature. My practically first official work was the “Row House in Sumiyoshi”. It is one of the 3 partitioned tenement houses that are small and narrow “like an eel bed”. I cut out the central compartment and designed it with concrete, almost like inserting a concrete box in the middle. 1/3 of the compartment is a central courtyard. As there is no roof, you need an umbrella to move between rooms. However, the resident is still happily living in this house. Many people say it is inconvenient but I think the resident had the understanding and the resolution.

──I understand you have also gone through serious illness.

Mr. Ando  I had five of my organs taken out – my gall bladder, bile duct, duodenum, spleen and pancreas. Accepting the fact that I have lost my organs as such, I am now trying to take care of my health without working or trying too hard. I am now well enough to work happily.

──That is amazing! I knew it but Mr. Ando, you are not an ordinary person! And you are also too cool (lol). I now understand that being cool is about having a philosophy and resolution over life as well as having the ability to see the overview and perceive things objectively.　

──Mr. Ando, in addition to being a big donor yourself, you also have been working as a fundraiser, encouraging others around you to make donations.

Mr. Ando　It is rather difficult to collect donations as the culture of making donations has yet to take root in Japan. Therefore, when I meet someone to ask for donations, I always go on my own being prepared for anything. In the case of “Children’s Book Forest”, I donated the construction fee but asked individuals and corporations to donate the money to cover the operational cost. I understand that “Children’s Book Forest Nakanoshima” received approximately \880 million in donation as of March 2022, “Children’s Book Forest Tono” approximately \44 million as of February 2022 and “Children’s Book Forest Kobe” approximately \160 million so far.
We established “Momo Kaki Orphans Fund” in 2011 for children that lost either of their parents in the Tohoku Earthquake. The concept was for each person to make a donation of \10,000 every year over the period of 10 years. Within half a year after establishment, we had as many as 17,000 people participate in the project. There was also a company that donated as much as \200 million in one payment. In the end, we were able to hand over a total of \5.2 billion to approximately 1,900 orphans through 3 prefectures that were affected by the earthquake.
In December 2004, we started “Sakura no kai / Heisei no Torinuke Project” to plant cherry trees in the towns of Osaka with money donated from citizens. We were able to continue with the project by expanding the area to plant the trees and in the end were able to plant 3,000 cherry trees with over \520 million in donations received.

If you plant trees, you need to take care of them so that they grow. If a child is born, you need to raise them. My grandfather used to say to me “If you want to have a dog, you need to take good care of it. If you can’t, you should not have a dog.” That was what I was taught from my childhood. The same goes for buildings. Once you build a building, that is not the end. You need to continue to take care of them.

──Although there are people that make big donations, there are not many that take the action to encourage others to donate. On the other hand, amongst the increasing number of people that do fundraisings, not many donate themselves. I think it is very rare to find a Japanese that not only makes a donation but also actively encourages other people to do the same. I admire Mr. Ando’s scale and determined style in that respect as well. You are not a typical Japanese in that sense.

Mr. Ando　I think you need to have the “heart to feel grateful”. In 1994, there was a project initiated by an idea of the then Director General of the UNESCO, Mr. Mayor to build a memorial chapel for the world in Paris to commemorate the 50th anniversary of UNESCO. I got a call from Mr. Mayor who said “We want to build a monument where every person can pray for world peace regardless of borders or religion so that the world becomes such a place.” However, he said there was no money (lol). I called upon various people I knew and was able to somehow raise approximately \175 million over a month or so. However, it was really difficult to raise money. Japan used to be a country where people survived by supporting each other. However, I find that now a days supporting each other has become more difficult.

───Partly as a result of that, the culture of making donations has yet to grow in Japan. I feel that education from one’s childhood is also important. To demonstrate and formalize your feeling of gratitude. As in the saying “On-okuri rather than On-gaeshi (pass on favors instead of returning favors)”, it is definitely important to create a chain of one passing on his/her feeling of gratitude to others. I think that is also the underlying principle of Birthday Donation.

Mr. Ando　Amongst the children that come to “Children’s Book Forest”, there are some that are thinking seriously about world peace and global warming which is very encouraging. I do not believe there is a future without children that are capable of “thinking on their own”.

──I understand that you have established Creative Future Project at Kyoto University as a fund to support researchers of the next generation together with people such as Mr. Akio Nitori, the Chairman and Executive Director of Nitori Holdings. I hear that it is a scholarship that does not require repayment. Given the prominent widening of the education gap as a result of economic inequality, it will definitely help our future to provide ambitious students with the opportunity to continue with their studies.

Mr. Ando　I learned that there was an increasing number of students that were forced to give up education as they could no longer afford to pay for their tuition or living due to Covid, etc. Japan does not have a future without growing talented people that can lead the next generation. I called upon corporations and individuals from my desire to do what I can do to support that end.
I also designed the research building for “Infectious Disease Project” carried out by Osaka University and the Nippon Foundation. Despite there being “only one earth”, the Covid has created new divides. I hope that many talented researchers from across the globe gather in this research building to conduct research on infectious disease beyond the boundaries of specialization.
If one can think about what will be left in your heart in the end, I think each of them all can create a happy world. To participate with your own heart. Education is important to help children gain the ability to think on their own.

──I understand that the green apple object at “Children’s Book Forest Nakanoshima” was named “Eternal Youth”. “The goal is not a sweet and ripe red apple but a green apple that may be unripe and sour but is full of hope for tomorrow – that is the spirit”. In those words, I see a resilient and happy spirit that faces difficulties without being afraid of failures and doesn’t give up on one’s dream, always looking at the future. It is indeed the way of your life, Mr. Ando.