New earthquake retrofitting law to be introduced in 2011

In the event of an earthquake in Tokyo the major roads will be used by emergency vehicles. To reduce the risk of buildings collapsing onto these major roads, regulations to enforce building owners to conduct earthquake retrofitting are being put in place.Read more


Strong demand for Nomura Proud Series of apartments

proud-city-akabaneNomura Real Estate Development's "Proud Series" of condominiums have seen strong sales and same-day sellouts for many of their buildings.

At the end of November, Proud City Akabane in Tokyo's Kita-ku had received purchase applications on all 214 units released for sale in the initial offering. The second offering will begin in early January. The apartment building is still under construction and completion is expected by the beginning of November, 2011. There are a total of 284 units priced from 41.3 - 108.8 million JPY and sized between 58.92 - 100.32 sqm.Read more


Tokyo's most expensive rental apartments

La Tour Aobadai
La Tour Aobadai

The Real Estate Economic Institute has released a report on the luxury rental apartment market in Tokyo's 23 Wards. Luxury apartments were defined as having a monthly rent of 300,000 JPY or higher. The findings are translated below:Read more


UT Building Project (Stalled & Foreclosed)

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*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

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TV Asashi Nishiazabu Site, December 2010

 

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


Japan's air-raid shelters putting local residents at risk

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A sealed air-raid shelter in Kagoshima

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


Shibuya's Mitake Building/Mansion Reconstruction Project to start in early 2011

shibuya-new-mitake-bldgAn aging residential/commercial building just minutes from Shibuya Station is about to be torn down and replaced with a 17 storey condominium. The current building was built in 1959 by the Tokyo Metropolitan Housing Supply Corporation. Due to its age (it is now over 50 years old) and deterioration, it was considered at risk from earthquakes.

Initial discussions to rebuild began in 1999. The planning and administration company, UG Toshi Kenchiku and Nippon Steel City Produce, were selected to head the project in 2004. The new building will be mixed use with commercial and retail on the first 3 floors, and residential units on floors 4 to 17. Nippon Steel City Produce has acquired the reserved floorspace which will be sold as residential units from Summer, 2011.Read more