Construction on Japan’s New Tallest Building Starts

Last week, construction crews broke ground on the building that is supposed to become Japan’s tallest skyscraper. The Toranomon-Azabudai project is actually three towers – “a city within a city” according to the developers – and will soar 330 meters high above central Tokyo. Looking at the towers separately, they would actually be Japan’s tallest, fourth tallest and 15^th tallest buildings once completed.

The skyscrapers are supposed to offer space for 20,000 employees and 3,500 residents, according to CNN. Right now, Osaka’s Abeno Harukas tower is still the tallest in Japan with a height of 300 meters.

Japan was once at the forefront of skyscraper construction, but since the 2000s, other countries, namely on the Arabian Peninsula and elsewhere in Asia, have raced ahead. For comparison, Taiwan’s tallest building stands at 508 meters, China’s tallest measures 623 meters and the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, is 828 meters tall. Yet, Japan is still home to some of the most outrageous skyscrapers ever dreamed up. According to Skyscraper Center by the Council onTall Buildings and Urban Habitat, which lists completed, proposed andenvisioned structures, three out of the seven structures ever drafted up to beover 2000 meters high were supposed to be located in Japan, including the highest ever envisioned building, the X-Seed 4000 tower of 1995.