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Construction begins on Japan’s tallest building, Torch Tower

2023-10-09T15:00:00-04:00

Construction has begun on the Torch Tower, set to be the new tallest building in Japan. The 1,280-foot-tall skyscraper is expected to be completed in March 2028 according to new reporting by The Japan Times.

The Torch Tower is one of four buildings to be constructed as part of a major redevelopment of Tokyo’s historic Tokiwabashi district. Led by developers Mitsubishi Estate, the design team involved in the master plan’s delivery includes Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei, Koji Matsuda, Sou Fujimoto, Yuko Nagayama, and Takanori Fukouka.

Hotel entrance. Image credit: Dorchester Collection

When completed, the Torch Tower will hold a luxury hotel operated by the Dorchester Collection, as well as a 2,000-capacity entertainment hall, offices, and an observation deck. While the hotel, offices, and rooftop observatory will be housed in the tower form, the entertainment hall and retail spaces will be located within a base plinth rising from a single below-ground floor to a sixth above-ground floor.

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A massive redevelopment project in Tokyo, by Sou Fujimoto and others, will feature the construction of Japan's tallest building

2021-07-14T19:38:00-04:00

Tokyo’s historic Tokiwabashi district is undergoing a large-scale redevelopment that will see the construction of Japan’s tallest high-rise building.

For centuries, Tokiwabashi served as the gateway to Edo Castle, the 15th-Century site of the Tokyo Imperial Palace. In 1914, it became the access point for Japan’s national railway network, and in the 1960s, the district was redeveloped to support Japan’s rapid economic growth. Today, Tokiwabashi is experiencing another transformation.

Led by real-estate developers, Mitsubishi Estate and their subsidiary architecture firm, Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei, the project, titled TOKYO TORCH, spans a 31,400-square-meter site. It aims to preserve the area’s legacy as Japan’s core economic district, while also imagining a new sense of “joy, pride, peace of mind, and happiness” into the area. The project is being led by Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei architect, Koji Matsuda, with a team consisting of Sou Fujimoto, Yuko Nagayama, and Takanori Fukuoka.

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Sou Fujimoto to design crown of Torch Tower, Japan's future tallest skyscraper

2021-01-22T14:01:00-05:00

A 390-meter-high (1,279 feet) skyscraper inspired by a flaming torch is set to become Japan's tallest building when it opens in 2027. Standing above a new plant-filled public plaza in Tokyo, the tower will also feature a soaring observation area from which visitors can enjoy views over the capital and nearby Mount Fuji.

In a recent set of Instagram posts, Sou Fujimoto revealed that his team was designing the top section of Japan's future tallest skyscraper, dubbed Torch Tower.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sou Fujimoto (@sou_fujimoto)