Villa in Suginami-ku saved from demolition
Plans are underway to convert the private residence of a former Prime Minister, Prince Fumimaro Konoe, into a public garden. The local Suginami City is looking into purchasing the 6,000 sqm grounds and converting them into a public garden with a planned opening in 2017.
Named 'Tekigaiso', the house was built in a traditional Japanese style in 1927. The total floor area of the house is approximately 500 sqm (5,380 sqft). Prince Konoe purchased the property in 1937. In October 1941, he discussed war efforts in the house's drawing room with Hideki Tojo, general of the Imperial Japanese Army and Prime Minister from late 1941 to 1944. Konoe later committed suicide in his library in 1945, and Tojo was sentenced to death for Japanese war crimes in 1948.Read more
Voting rules may change to speed up earthquake-retrofitting
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) is considering bringing in relief measures that will reduce the number of votes needed by apartment owners when deciding on earthquake-retrofitting.
Currently, a majority vote is needed for small repairs, but if the building association wishes to carry out large-scale repairs which may include earthquake-retrofitting, at least 75% of apartment owners must agree to the repairs. Proposed changes by the MLIT would change this to a majority vote. Read more
Former town hall in Gifu to be demolished
The former Kanohonmachi Town Hall in Gifu City will be demolished due to ageing and deterioration.
The two-storey reinforced-concrete building was completed in 1926 at an estimated cost of 60,000 Yen. Read more
Park Tower Shibuya Honcho close to selling out
Mitsui's new condominium in Shibuya-ku is close to selling out, despite completion being eight months away. Sales in the 21-storey building first began in late 2012, and by the end of the year over 100 of the 142 apartments had contracts on them. As many as 30 ~ 40 potential buyers visit the showroom each weekend, so it seems very possible that the remaining apartments will soon be sold.
The average apartment price is approximately 912,000 Yen/sqm (roughly 10,000 USD/sqm), while the average price for apartments in the second stage of sales is 888,000 Yen/sqm. A 1-bedroom is priced from 41,300,000 Yen, while 2-bedroom apartments start from 48,200,000 Yen.Read more
Man sued for smoking on his balcony
A 74-year old woman has sued her 61-year old neighbour for damages after cigarette smoke from his balcony drifted into her apartment upstairs and aggravated her health conditions.
Although the initial claim was for 1.5 million Yen in damages, the Nagoya District Court ordered the man to pay her 50,000 Yen (570 USD). It is quite unusual to see a case like this end up in court, and rare to see a plaintiff win a case for passive-smoking.Read more
A look at the demolition of the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka
The demolition of the 140m tall Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka is underway with the building now standing at three-quarters of its original height.
The work is being carried out by a joint venture between Taisei Corporation and Seibu Construction using the 'Taisei Ecological Reproduction System' (Teco-Rep System). Assistant Director of Taisei's Construction Engineering Development Department, Mr. Hideki Ichihara, explains the process:Read more