[online] Vanishing Japan: Modern Architecture, Gone But Not Forgotten
[online] Vanishing Japan: Modern Architecture, Gone But Not Forgotten
Thursday 6 August 2026 at 6.30pm
Vanishing Japan: Modern Architecture, Gone But Not Forgotten, the latest book by Naomi Pollock, is a visual celebration and record of Japan's demolished post-war architectural gems, and a look at why they've been torn down.
Not every mid-century modern building in Japan can or even deserves to be saved. Yet a swathe of these works, those that achieved new architectural milestones and those that became landmarks in the public eye, warrant international attention. Vanishing Japan is the first book to shine a light on these gems.
The book focuses on some ninety buildings demolished since 2000, featuring beloved theatres, shopping centres and offices built between the 1950s and 1970s, and select examples from the 1980s and 1990s.
High real-estate values, cost and improvements to construction techniques in a country plagued by earthquakes are just some of the reasons that Naomi explores as explanations for why buildings regularly get torn down in Japan.
Naomi Pollock is an American architect who writes about Japanese design and architecture. She is the author of Nuno: Visionary Japanese Textiles, Japanese Design Since 1945 and The Japanese House Since 1945, published by Thames & Hudson. She lived and worked in Japan for over thirty years.
This booking is for online Zoom lecture. For in-person event book here.
C20 Society Member £6;
Non-Member £8;
Young C20 member free*;
Student £4 **
*For Young C20 members, please email lukas@c20society.org.uk to secure a place.
**For student pricing please select from the dropdown option next to ‘membership number’ on the booking form below.
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Note: This event is hybrid and is being run both in-person at Cowcross Street Gallery and online via Zoom. The event will be recorded and offered as a catch-up lecture for those who have booked and will be available for two weeks.
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The Twentieth Century Society is an IHBC (Institute of Historic Building conservation) recognised CPD provider and is a registered charity, no 1110244
Image above: Left: Sky Building No. 5, aka the Godzilla Building, Youji Watanabe, Tokyo, 1971-Unknown; Takeshi Sato (Youji Watanabe Office). Right: Naha Tower Building, Nobuyoshi Kinjo + Gendai Sekkei Co., Ltd. Okinawa, 1973- 2014; Courtesy Ura-kun.