Tokyo’s World Trade Center Closes for Demolition

The 51-year-old Tokyo World Trade Center Building, once Japan’s tallest building, has been shut down for planned demolition and construction of a new, taller building, Asahi Shimbun reported in June. Opened in 1970, the 152-m-tall tower has since been a landmark in Tokyo’s Hamamatsucho District. The building was the brainchild of the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which wanted a convenient building that could house companies planning to trade abroad. At the time, it was a desirable office location, but technological changes — particularly advances in information technology — have rendered the building obsolete. The 235-m replacement tower will hold 46 floors, and is expected to be completed in March 2027.