The ”Big Roof Ring” will disappear into history with the closing of the Osaka Expo = Korean media

The "Big Ring Roof," a structure that has become a symbol of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, will disappear into history with the closing of the Expo. According to local reports such as the Japan Times, the Japan Association for the World Exposition
The decision was made to preserve only a 200-meter section of the large roof ring, a wooden structure that surrounds the Expo site, and demolish the rest.
The large roof ring will be modeled after London's "Krystal Palace" (185m) at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo.
It was built at a cost of 34.4 billion yen to succeed the Eiffel Tower in Paris (1889) and is a symbol of the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025.
It was built using the traditional Japanese construction method called "Nuki," in which horizontal beams and vertical pillars are connected vertically by digging grooves out of locally grown red cedar.
With a circumference of 2,025m, a diameter of 615m and a height of 20m, it was declared the "world's largest wooden structure" in March of this year.
It has also been registered in the Guinness Book of World Records as a "structure of great architectural value." During the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, it will serve as a passageway leading to the venue, providing shelter from the wind and rain and a place of relaxation offering shade.
The rooftop walkway built on top of the roof ring has also become popular as an observation deck offering a panoramic view of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo site.
The timber of the large roof ring that was removed was severely damaged by the earthquake and heavy rain last year.
The wood will be provided free of charge as materials for new public housing to be built in the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture. Plans are also being considered to use some of the wood for bus stops, gazebos, benches, railings, and more.
Some people are of the opinion that the large roof ring, which contains messages of unity, dialogue and hope, should be left in its entirety.
More than 130,000 people participated in the online signature campaign, which raised the slogan. The presidents of seven universities in the Kansai region, including Osaka University and Kansai University, also issued a joint statement expressing their support to Osaka Prefecture and the city.
The architect who designed the large roof ring, Sou Fujimoto, said in a recent interview, "Removing the large roof ring would be a huge waste and would be a major step towards the concept of a 'sustainable Expo.'
"There should be ample discussion to find a sustainable solution that will connect the message contained in the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo and the ring roof as a legend," he said.
” he emphasized.