Nakagin Capsule Tower Building
The Nakagin Capsule Tower Building built 1970-1972 is a famous example of Japan’s metabolist movement. Now almost 39 years old, the deteriorating building is plagued with water leaks and asbestos problems.Read more
Asaya Department Store demolition to start later this month
The Asaya Department store in Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture, is scheduled to be demolished with work expected to begin by the end of this year. The city purchased the site from the former owner and have plans for redevelopment.
The 3-storey art deco building was constructed by Yasuzo Kida and completed in 1934. The store was opened by the former owner's great grandfather and was the first department store in Gunma Prefecture. After the war it apparently had a ferris wheel on the rooftop.Read more
UT Building Project (Stalled & Foreclosed)
*Update: As of December, 2010, this building has been foreclosed on and is now up for public auction with a court evaluation price of 1,005,030,000 JPY (12 million USD).*
Located alongside Aoyama Dori Avenue, halfway between Omotesando and Shibuya Stations, this building has been 'under construction' for several years. Construction work stalled at least 2 years ago. Earlier last year there was a crane atop the building, but it has since been removed and there are no signs of life.Read more
TV Asahi to develop former Zaboo Onsen Site
TV Asahi acquired the Zaboo Onsen in July, 2010. An 18 storey office building with a total floorspace of 18,000sqm and an event hall will be built on the 3,769sqm site . Construction is scheduled to start in Summer, 2010 and should be completed by Fall 2013.Read more
Aoyama Obayashi Building (aka Hanae Mori Building)
The Aoyama Obayashi Building, commonly known as the Hanae Mori Building, is currently undergoing reconstruction. Demolition of the former building started in July, 2010 and is expected to be complete by February, 2011. Construction of the new building is scheduled to begin in April, 2011.
The former building was designed by Kenzo Tange and was completed in 1977. Tange also designed the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka which is slated for demolition in 2011.Read more
Japan's air-raid shelters putting local residents at risk
During the war, underground air raid shelters were built in at least 9,850 locations across Japan. Currently as many as 487 of these locations are at risk of collapse, causing damage to houses above or serious injuries or death to local residents.
On November 29th, the collapse of a former Japanese army shelter in Tachikawa, T0kyo, caused serious property damage to the landowners house. The Tokyo District Court ordered state reparations to compensate the owner.Read more