80~90% of condominiums in Kumamoto suffered damage in April earthquakes
90% of the condominiums in Kumamoto Prefecture that are members of the Condominium Management Companies Association reported building damage from the April earthquakes. Meanwhile the Kumamoto Prefecture Condominium Management Federation estimated that 80% of the 850 condominiums in Kumamoto City suffered earthquake damage.Read more
Former Taiyo Dept Store in Kumamoto to be demolished
The Daiei Kumamoto Shimotori Store (formerly the Taiyo Department Store) in Kumamoto City will be demolished next year. The building was the scene of a devastating fire in 1973 that killed 104 people and injured 120.
The 60 year old building opened in 1952 as the Taiyo Department Store. In its early days it was considered the best store in the city.
The store was closed for the next two years following the fire as the building underwent repairs. When it finally re-opened, 120,000 people visited on the opening day. However, the store never fully recovered from the incident and went bankrupt a year later.