Tokyo Skytree Explained

Tokyo Skytree
Native Name:東京スカイツリー
Native Name Lang:ja
Location:Sumida, Tokyo, Japan
Coordinates:35.7101°N 139.8107°W
Architectural Style:Neo-futurism
Elevator Count:13
Cost:65 billion JPY[1]
Architect:Nikken Sekkei
Main Contractor:Obayashi Corporation
Developer:Tobu Railway
Owner:Tobu Railway through, a wholly owned subsidiary
Mapframe-Marker:communications-tower

is a broadcasting and observation tower in Sumida, Tokyo. It became the tallest tower in Japan in 2010[2] and reached its full height of 6340NaN0 in March 2011, making it the tallest tower in the world, displacing the Canton Tower,[3] [4] and the third tallest structure in the world after Merdeka 118 (678.9m (2,227.4feet)) and the Burj Khalifa (829.8 m or 2,722 ft).[5] It is the tallest freestanding tower in the OECD, the G20 and G7 countries.

The tower is the primary television and radio broadcast site for the Kantō region; the older Tokyo Tower no longer gives complete digital terrestrial television broadcasting coverage because it is surrounded by high-rise buildings. Skytree was completed on Leap Day, 29 February 2012, with the tower opening to the public on 22 May 2012.[6] The tower is the centrepiece of a large commercial development funded by Tobu Railway (which owns the complex) and a group of six terrestrial broadcasters headed by NHK. Trains stop at the adjacent Tokyo Skytree Station and nearby Oshiage Station. The complex is 7abbr=offNaNabbr=off northeast of Tokyo Station. Sumida Aquarium is in the Tokyo Solamachi complex.

Design

The tower's design was published on 24 November 2006,[7] based on the following three concepts:

The base of the tower has a structure similar to a tripod; from a height of about and above, the tower's structure is cylindrical to offer panoramic views of the river and the city.[10] There are observatories at, with a capacity of up to 2,000 people, and, with a capacity of 900 people.[11] The upper observatory features a spiral, glass-covered skywalk in which visitors ascend the last 5 metres to the highest point at the upper platform. A section of glass flooring gives visitors a direct downward view of the streets below.[12]

Earthquake resistance

The tower has seismic proofing, including a central shaft made of reinforced concrete. The main internal pillar is attached to the outer tower structure for the first 125 metres above ground. From there until 375 metres the pillar is attached to the tower frame with oil dampers, which act as cushions during an earthquake. Additional resilience is achieved through an "added mass control mechanism" (or tuned mass damper) – a damping system which, in the event of an earthquake, moves out of step with the building's structure, to keep the centre of gravity as central as possible to the tower's base.[13] According to the designers, the dampers can absorb 50 percent of the energy from an earthquake.[14] [15]

Colour

The exterior lattice is painted a colour officially called "Skytree White". This is an original colour based on a bluish-white traditional Japanese colour called .[16]

Illumination

The illumination design was published on 16 October 2009. Two illumination patterns alternate daily. One is the sky blue Iki (chic, stylish), and the other is the purple Miyabi (elegance, refinement). The tower is illuminated using LEDs.[17]

Naming and height

From October to November 2007, suggestions were collected from the general public for the name to be given to the tower. On 19 March 2008, a committee chose six final candidate names:,,,,, . The official name was decided in a nationwide vote, and was announced on 10 June 2008 as "Tokyo Skytree". The name received around 33,000 votes (30%) out of 110,000 cast, with the second most popular name being "Tokyo Edo Tower".[18]

The height of was selected to be easily remembered. The figures 6 (mu), 3 (sa), 4 (shi) stand for "Musashi", an old name for the region where the Tokyo Skytree stands.[19]

Broadcasting use

Tokyo Skytree is used as a radio/television broadcast and communications tower.

Television broadcasters

ChannelChannel nameCallsignSignal powerERPBroadcast area
NHK General TVJOAK-DTV10 kW68 kWKantō region
NHK Educational TVJOAB-DTV
tvkJOKM-DTV?1 kWKanagawa and Tokyo
Nippon TelevisionJOAX-DTV10 kW68 kWKantō region
TV AsahiJOEX-DTV
TBS TelevisionJORX-DTV
TV TokyoJOTX-DTV
Fuji TelevisionJOCX-DTV
Tokyo MXJOMX-DTV3 kW11.5 kWTokyo

Radio broadcasters

FrequencyStation nameCallsignPowerERPBroadcast area
81.3 MHzJ-Wave TokyoJOAV-FM7 kW57 kWTokyo
82.5 MHzNHK FM Broadcast TokyoJOAK-FM
90.5 MHzTBS Radio TokyoJOKR-FMKantō region
91.6 MHzNippon Cultural Broadcasting Sumida 
93.0 MHzNippon Broadcasting System Sumida 

Timeline

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2022

Opening

As the Skytree's opening approached, people reportedly waited in line for a week to get tickets. By the opening, trips up the tower were fully booked for the first two months of operation.[48] The opening day drew a crowd of tens of thousands, despite rainy conditions which blocked the view from the tower's observation deck. Strong winds also forced two elevators to be shut down, leaving some visitors briefly stranded on the observation deck.[49]

According to Tobu, 1.6 million people visited Skytree in its first week. Local residents reported that the influx of visitors disturbed the peace of their community and had, so far, generated little economic benefit for the local area.[50]

See also

References

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Japan finishes Tokyo Sky Tree . Mmtimes.com . 14 June 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140203154812/http://www.mmtimes.com/2012/business/617/biz61714.html . 3 February 2014 .
  2. http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/news/20100329p2g00m0dm025000c.html Tokyo Sky Tree beats Tokyo Tower, now tallest building in Japan
  3. Web site: Japan Finishes World's Tallest Communications Tower . . 1 March 2012 . 2 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160619104856/http://www.ctbuh.org/News/GlobalTallNews/tabid/468/EntryId/4066/Japan-Finishes-Worlds-Tallest-Communications-Tower.aspx . 19 June 2016 . dead .
  4. Web site: Tokyo Sky Tree . https://web.archive.org/web/20120603121034/http://www.emporis.com/building/tokyo-sky-tree-tokyo-japan . dead . 3 June 2012 . . 2 March 2012.
  5. Web site: Tokyo Sky Tree takes root as world's second-tallest structure . https://web.archive.org/web/20120525134229/http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/22/11809861-tokyo-sky-tree-takes-root-as-worlds-second-tallest-structure?chromedomain=itineraries . dead . 25 May 2012 . Arata Yamamoto . 22 May 2012 . NBC News . 22 May 2012 .
  6. Web site: http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/about/enterprise.html . ja:事業概要 . Tokyo Skytree Home . ja . 2 September 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110902034510/http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/about/enterprise.html . 2 September 2011 .
  7. Web site: The Tallest Tower in the World: Tokyo Skytree . https://web.archive.org/web/20131207075630/http://www.thetallesteverything.com/tallest-tower.php . dead . 7 December 2013 . TheTallestEverything.com . 29 October 2014 .
  8. http://megalopolisnow.com/2012/08/08/tokyo-sky-tree-the-worlds-tallest-broadcasting-tower/ Tokyo Sky Tree: the world's tallest broadcasting tower
  9. http://www.archdaily.com/tag/japan/page/33/ Japan | ArchDaily – Part 33
  10. Web site: Tokyo Sky Tree, Japan . designbuild-network . 22 September 2012 . 29 November 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171129061536/http://www.designbuild-network.com/projects/tokyo-sky-tree . live .
  11. News: World's tallest broadcasting tower Tokyo Skytree opens . BBC News . 22 May 2012 . 22 May 2012 . 22 May 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120522193506/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18141311 . live .
  12. [Kyodo News]
  13. Web site: Secrets of the Sky Tree: Quake-proofing the world's second tallest structure. 2 March 2012 . 15 April 2016. 23 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160423205721/http://www.gizmag.com/tokyo-sky-tree/21682/. live.
  14. Nakata, Hiroko, "Tokyo Sky Tree opener looms large ", Japan Times, 21 February 2012, p. 3.
  15. Bull, Brett, "The sky's the limit ", Japan Times, 20 May 2012, p. 7
  16. Web site: Color Design . 2008 . Tokyo Skytree . Tobu Railway Co. . Japan . 7 June 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120429034347/http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/archive/design/ . 29 April 2012 .
  17. Web site: Lighting Design . Tobu Tower Skytree Co., Ltd. . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121116050604/http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/archive/design/lighting.html . 16 November 2012 .
  18. http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/news/pdf/080610.pdf Name of New Tower Decided
  19. [Kyodo News]
  20. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080715b2.html "Tokyo Sky Tree construction starts"
  21. News: ja:高さ610メートル電波塔「スカイツリー」本体が地上に姿 . http://sankei.jp.msn.com/region/kanto/tokyo/090406/tky0904062220006-n1.htm . . Tokyo . 28 July 2009 . ja . The height of 610 meter radio wave tower, "Skytree", the main body of tower appeared on the ground . 9 April 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090409091445/http://sankei.jp.msn.com/region/kanto/tokyo/090406/tky0904062220006-n1.htm . dead .
  22. Web site: Rising-east.jp . Tokyo Skytree is the height of the body beyond the 100m tower. Tree is growing steadily. . 13 January 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091007110336/http://www.rising-east.jp/dl/pdf/20090806.pdf . 7 October 2009 . dead .
  23. Web site: 東京スカイーツリーの最高高さを634mに決定しました。 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091016010101/http://www.rising-east.jp/dl/pdf/2009101602.pdf. Tobu Railway and Tobu Tower Skytree . Tokyo . ja. Maximum height of Tokyo Skytree to be 634 m . 16 October 2009 . dead . 16 October 2009.
  24. http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20091110-00000463-yom-soci
  25. Web site: Tokyo Skytree's height of the tower body exceeds 300m . Rising East project . ja . 18 February 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100331085140/http://www.rising-east.jp/dl/pdf/100216.pdf . 31 March 2010.
  26. Web site: Nothing very little about this miniature . Asahi Shimbun . Japan . 25 March 2010 . 29 March 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100329011238/http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201003240432.html . live .
  27. http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/index.php?storyid=514891 Tokyo Skytree, already tallest building in Japan, tops 400 meters
  28. Web site: http://www.obayashi.co.jp/news/skytreedetail10_20101125_1 . ja:東京スカイツリー のつくり方「制振装置のあるゲイン塔頂部をつくる」 . 25 November 2010 . . ja . "To make the tower tip with TMD installed", how to make Tokyo Skytree . 20 December 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101208043654/http://www.obayashi.co.jp/news/skytreedetail10_20101125_1 . 8 December 2010 . dead .
  29. Web site: http://blog.skytree-obayashi.com/?eid=110989 . ja:総重量は約100トン。制振装置が塔体の最頂部へ . 25 November 2010 . . ja . Total weight 100 ton, TMD placed on tower tip. . 25 November 2010 . 16 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110716082814/http://blog.skytree-obayashi.com/?eid=110989 . live .
  30. News: Tokyo Sky Tree tops 500 meters during construction . . 1 December 2010.
  31. Web site: http://www.soumu.go.jp/soutsu/kanto/if/press/p22/p2212/p221217o.html. ja:東京スカイツリーへの放送局の無線設備の設置に向けた変更許可について. 16 December 2010. Kanto Bureau of Telecommunications of Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. ja. Approval of alteration to install the radio wave facility of broadcasting stations to Tokyo Skytree. 19 December 2010. dead. https://archive.today/20120912002511/http://www.soumu.go.jp/soutsu/kanto/if/press/p22/p2212/p221217o.html. 12 September 2012.
  32. News: Tokyo Sky Tree tops 600 meters, becoming world's tallest tower . https://web.archive.org/web/20110629170014/http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/tokyo-sky-tree-tops-600-meters-becoming-worlds-tallest-tower . dead . 29 June 2011 . 1 March 2011 . Japan Today .
  33. Web site: http://www.nikkei.com/life/news/article/g=96958A9C889DE0E6E0EAEBEBE7E2E2E0E2E1E0E2E3E39191E3E2E2E2;da=96958A88889DE2E0E3EAEAE7E6E2E0E3E3E0E0E2E2EBE2E2E2E2E2E2 . ja:世界一ツリー604メートル到達 東京スカイツリー . Tokyo Skytree reaches 604 m . 2 March 2011 . Nikkei Inc. . 3 March 2011 . ja . 6 March 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110306024754/http://www.nikkei.com/life/news/article/g=96958A9C889DE0E6E0EAEBEBE7E2E2E0E2E1E0E2E3E39191E3E2E2E2;da=96958A88889DE2E0E3EAEAE7E6E2E0E3E3E0E0E2E2EBE2E2E2E2E2E2 . live .
  34. News: ja:スカイツリー、634メートルに到達 完成時の高さに . http://www.asahi.com/national/update/0318/TKY201103180299.html . . Tokyo . 18 March 2011 . ja . Skytree reaches final height of 634 m . 21 March 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110321101026/http://www.asahi.com/national/update/0318/TKY201103180299.html . live .
  35. Yomiuri-online movie: Dismantling cranes on 23 May 2011 (Japanese)
  36. Web site: http://www.tokyo-skytreetown.jp/dl/pdf/2011060701.pdf . ja:東京スカイツリータウンの事業概要が決定しました . 7 June 2011 . Tokyo Skytree Town . ja . Decided the business outline of Tokyo Sky Tree Town . 8 June 2011 . 26 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110626121340/http://www.tokyo-skytreetown.jp/dl/pdf/2011060701.pdf . live .
  37. Web site: Mirai . Tokyo Sky Tree officially tallest free-standing tower in the world . https://archive.today/20130127013441/http://japanverse.com/2012/10/tokyo-sky-tree-now-officially-the-tallest-free-standing-tower-in-the-world/ . dead . 27 January 2013 . Japanverse.com . 19 November 2011 . 2 March 2012 .
  38. http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/company-warehouses-damaged-by-ice-falling-from-tokyo-sky-tree Company warehouses damaged by ice falling from Tokyo Sky Tree 17 February 2012
  39. Koh, Yoree Look Up at Your Peril: Tokyo Skytree's Falling Ice 15 January 2013 Wall Street Journal Retrieved 5 October 2015
  40. http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/-/world/13051217/japan-finishes-tokyo-sky-tree/ Japan finishes Tokyo Sky Tree
  41. http://english.kyodonews.jp/photos/2012/03/144831.html Tokyo Sky Tree completion ceremony, 2 March 2012
  42. News: ja:東京スカイツリーで竣工式 . Completion ceremony for Tokyo Skytree . http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20120302/t10013432221000.html . NHK TV . Tokyo . 2 March 2012 . ja . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120302121950/http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20120302/t10013432221000.html . 2 March 2012 .
  43. Web site: http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/page/gonittei/photo/5213. ja:ご視察（東京スカイツリー）（墨田区） – 宮内庁. Imperial Household Agency. 26 April 2012. 12 April 2016. ja. 25 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160425082822/http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/page/gonittei/photo/5213. live.
  44. Web site: http://www.mxtv.co.jp/company/press/20120927_skytree_housou.pdf . ja:10月1日、東京スカイツリーから放送開始 . 27 September 2012 . . ja . Start broadcasting from Tokyo Skytree on 1 October 2012 . 2 June 2013 . 4 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052148/http://www.mxtv.co.jp/company/press/20120927_skytree_housou.pdf . dead .
  45. http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Snow_from_worlds_tallest_tower_pierces_Tokyo_roof_999.html Snow from world's tallest tower pierces Tokyo roof 16 January 2013
  46. Web site: 2013年5月13日18:00東京タワーの電波を中止 . 13 May 2013 . . Radio wave stopped from Tokyo Tower on 13 May 2–13 18:00 . 2 June 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130611082728/http://s.mxtv.jp/skytree_iten/jyushin_kakunin.html . 11 June 2013 .
  47. Web site: Kabuki actor's glare marks 10th anniversary of Tokyo Skytree . Asahi . May 23, 2022 . Noriyasu Nukui . https://web.archive.org/web/20220524055055/https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14627960 . May 24, 2022.
  48. Tokyo Skytree: The World's Tallest Tower, By the Numbers . Tim Newcomb . 22 May 2012 . Time . 22 May 2012 . 24 May 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120524050220/http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/05/22/tokyo-skytree-the-worlds-tallest-tower-by-the-numbers/ . live .
  49. News: High winds mar opening of Tokyo's Skytree tower . 22 May 2012 . BBC News . 22 May 2012 . 22 May 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120522193506/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18141311 . live .
  50. Aoki, Mizuho, "Skytree a mixed blessing for locals ", Japan Times, 22 June 2012, p. 3

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