Preservation of Daiki Old Elementary School Building as the Symbol of the Regional Environmental Sustainability, Susami Town, Wakayama, Japan

Daiki old elementary school building is situated in Samoto village in Susami Town, Wakayama Pref. in Japan. The old elementary school building holds more than the essence of spatial identity but memorial history of the village and symbol of community for more than a hundred year. The building was built on 1903 in a wooden structure, once enlarged on 1913, standing on a huge stone retaining wall underneath. But following the decreasing numbers of pupils, the school was closed on 1970 and merged with Samoto elementary school, of the neighboring village. The fact is that the building is the oldest wooden school building in this area and, therefore, deserves preservation, as heritage and legacy, particularly for the villagers. This paper exposition is written on the intermediate report of this engagement for cultural heritage.