Prof. Yuichiro Anzai President, Keio University 2-15-45 Mita Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8345
Dear Prof. Anzai:
It has come to our attention that Keio University is seriously considering the demolition of Old Laboratory Bldg. 2 which houses the "Shinbanraisha/Noguchi Room" and the sculpture garden that is contiguous with the Noguchi Room. This facility was designed in 1951 in a collaboration between the distinguished Japanese architect, Yoshiro Taniguchi and the eminent Japanese-American sculptor, Isamu Noguchi.
May we point out that the Noguchi Room and Sculpture Garden are of tremendous art historical value having been constructed at a critical period in the development of Modern Art in Japan. Coming out of a devastating war with little to inspire or encourage their development, it was an inspiration to a whole generation of architects and artists who were only vaguely aware of the modern art movement in Europe and America. The Noguchi Room together with the contiguous garden with Noguchi¹s sculpture "Mu" and "Wakai Hito" is an internationally recognized masterpiece of post-war modern architecture and art in Japan.
As members of the international community concerned with the arts and its role in society we, the undersigned, support the Japanese efforts to preserve this site-specific work of art as a monument to the spirit of international cultural collaboration and respectfully urge that Keio University not destroy its own cultural heritage by demolishing or relocating this work of art.
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE TO PRESERVE SHINBANRAISHA
Shoji Sadao, Trustee of The Isamu Noguchi Foundation of Japan, Inc.
Richard Lanier, President of The Asian Cultural Council
Martin Friedman, Director Emeritus, The Walker Art Center
SUPPORTERS
Georg Kochi, Representative, Asian Cultural Council, Japan-US Arts Program, Tokyo
Hugh Hardy, Architect, Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer, New York, NY
Bonnie Rychlak, Artist, New York, NY
Neil Printz, Editor, Isamu Noguchi Catalogue Raisonné, New York
Amy Hau, New York, NY
Priscilla Morgan, MPM Productions, New York
Ralph Samuelson, Director, Asian Cultural Council, New York
Bert Winther-Tamaki, Assoc. Prof., University of California, Irvine, CA
Peter Duus, William H. Bosall Prof. of History, Stanford University, CA
Miyeko Murase, Prof. Emerita Columbia University, Special Consultant on Japanese Art Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Alfred M. Prince, MD, Virologist, NY Blood Center, New York, NY