A towering wooden “Grand Ring” built for Expo 2025 in Osaka pays homage to Japan’s architectural history and is a symbol of unity despite criticism over costs, its creator says.

Recent research sheds new light on its purpose, suggesting that it may have served as a unifying symbol for Britain’s early farming communities during a time of significant demographic change.

Designed by Michael Graves Architecture & Design, the Statue of Unity will be 182-meters tall and depict Vallabhbhai “Sardar” Patel, the first deputy Prime Minister of India.