In 1988, Soichiro Fukutake, then president and representative director of Fukutake Publishing (now Benesse Corporation), approached architect Tadao Ando and told him that he wanted to create a ¡°utopia¡± in Japan. He explained his idea of transforming the neglected, economically poor islands of the Seto Inland Sea in Kagawa Prefecture into a ¡°paradise¡± that would host world-famous artists¡¯ work for everyone to enjoy ¡ª and in doing so revitalize the area. He asked Ando to join him in his vision.
¡°No,¡± the architect said. ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡±
Twenty-five years later, Ando still laughs about his initial response, ¡°At that time the Seto Inland Sea was ravaged,¡± he explained at a Setouchi Triennale press conference in Tokyo in May. ¡°There was a dark mood among the people of the islands. They were despondent. To reinvigorate the community, I thought, was an impossible dream.¡±
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