Tokyo Sky Tree Makes Tokyo Tower its Bitch
Two years ago when I first learned that a new Tokyo tower was going to be built, images seen on TV and in other media of the original Tokyo Tower under construction popped into my head. I immediately became excited and decided then that I would photograph the new Tokyo Tower when it reached its construction midpoint.
At the time, the proposed name of the structure was Shin Tokyo Tower, meaning ‘New’ Tokyo Tower. I was fine with that name. But then some PR idiot decided it would be a good idea to let people vote on the new name of the tower. Among the choices was Tokyo Sky Tree. I thought, What a stupid f#@king name! No way will even the Japanese go with such a ridiculous choice. But, sure enough, that’s what was chosen. Even now, the whole world is shaking its head at the lame title.
Whatever.
The fact that it’s going to be twice as tall as Tokyo Tower when completed is what I find to be very, very cool. Last week when it was announced that Tokyo Sky Tree is now officially the tallest structure in the land of the rising sun, I was reminded of my desire to get some construction midpoint photos. And today, that’s just what I did.
A few more photos at my Flickr page
Directions: Take the Hanzomon Line (半蔵門線), which is part of the Tokyo Metro Subway system, to Oshiage (押上) Station. Tokyo Sky Tree is ‘A’ on the map below. But, really, if you can’t find it after leaving Oshiage Station, you should be strapped into a wheelchair, beaten with a hammer, and rolled into the Sumida River.
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An American living in Tokyo. Can be seen bounding through Shinjuku Station most mornings, teeth gnashing, eyes bulging, a cup of cheap coffee clenched in one fist and a satchel in the other. God help those who don't see him coming.
April 3rd, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Whatever anybody thinks of the name (and yes, it is lame), the fact still remains that this thing is going to be pigging huge! Nice photos, by the way.
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April 3rd, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Shame about the name, but still pretty impressive.
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April 3rd, 2010 at 5:29 pm
The name is stupid but the tower is awesome. I’ve seen it a few times in the last 5 months from the expressway across the river on my way to and from Narita. Pretty impressive site even from the expressway.
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April 3rd, 2010 at 5:30 pm
I meant to say impressive “sight”, not site.
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April 3rd, 2010 at 10:10 pm
I’m looking forward to seeing it for myself.
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April 4th, 2010 at 3:51 am
@Ryan:
Thanks. It’s already impressive at the halfway point.
@Blue Shoe:
Yeah, don’t get me started on the name. Even when they were still taking votes, I wanted to email somebody and ask them to remove it from the list. I mean, why take such a cool project and taint it with a name the whole world is laughing at. And, they are laughing… Just search the foreign presses.
@Tornadoes:
You sound like you’re doing a lot of coming and going to Japan these days.
@sixmats:
I’m kind of geeky about stuff like this, so I was keen on seeing it at the midpoint of construction. Are you going to be in Tokyo before the end of the year?
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April 4th, 2010 at 4:08 am
Nice pics, yo. and thanks for the directions…must go check it out.
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April 4th, 2010 at 4:45 am
I like the name. I didn’t really think much more about it until I read this post filled with hatred (well, amusement) for it. After thinking about it more, I still like it. It’s a Google-able name which combines two natural-sounding words. You might object to another “Tokyo Tower” being built, but who could object to a “Sky Tree”?
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thesoulofjapan Reply:
April 5th, 2010 at 2:07 am
I agree with William! I love the name Tokyo Sky Tree. The structure sort of resembles a tree in a weird Tokyo kind of way. I think this place will become a big hit after its completion.
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April 4th, 2010 at 4:47 am
I was there in December and again in the beginning of February. Probably will be back later this year.
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April 4th, 2010 at 11:44 am
a must visit when I get to Tokyo!
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April 4th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
@loco:
Thanks. You definitely should while it’s still under construction.
@William:
You have a wonderful name, but you sir, are out of order.
However, you do make a good point about the Googleability of the name. From now on, I may make reference to the sky and trees in Tokyo in all future posts in attempt to steal some traffic for my own site
@Tornadoes:
Glad to hear you’re making the rounds.
@Jamaipanese:
You know it!
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April 4th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Good stuff! Despite over 15 years of living in and visiting Japan, this past December was my first visit to Tokyo Tower. It was about as expected, but looking across the city to the stump Sky Tree from atop Tokyo Tower and seeing how high it already was was way up there on the coolness scale.
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April 5th, 2010 at 10:54 am
A couple of those pics look like they were taken by a 1970’s instamatic.
Does your camera suck as bad as mine? Or were those taken in “retro ghetto camera” mode
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April 5th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
@N. Ferret:
Yeah, when I look at it on an overcast day from my office in Shinjuku, it’s just this ominous, dark tower looming on the horizon across town.
@Chris B:
Yeah, I f#@ked up and forgot to restore a setting on my camera and just went into tourist mode, shooting away. My camera’s nice… Its user’s a bit of a dipshit, though
@soulofjapan:
Like I said at JapanSoc, it’s already a big hit. There were so many people gathered around the construction site at the base, it was like Arashi was going to give a free show or something.
Thank god that didn’t happen, though.
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April 20th, 2010 at 10:05 am
I wonder why is it called Tokyo Sky Tree, while it doesn’t look like a tree!
Anyway, this is going to be quite impressive when it’s completed, and will make a remarkable history in Japan as Tokyo Tower!
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