Tokyo Sky Tree: The birth of the world's tallest broadcasting tower

[ardo]

The tower, standing at 634 meters high in Tokyo's Sumida Ward, overseeing a vast part of the capital and its suburban areas, and combining a rare design of traditional Japanese culture and modern technology, has for many already become the landmark of Japan's urban design and a symbol of technological progress.

The stations needed a new broadcasting tower to prevent skyscrapers in downtown Tokyo from adversely affecting radio waves. The current transmitting station, Tokyo Tower, built in 1958 at a height of 333 meters, was considered no longer tall enough to fully cover digital terrestrial television broadcasting.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20120229p2a00m0na013000c.html

The tower, which stands in a triangular shape at its base, takes on a round form for its upper body parts, partially reminding people of the "sori" (concave curves) of Japanese swords and "mukuri" (convex curves) forms seen in pillars of Japanese temples and shrines.

After its opening on May 22, Tokyo Sky Tree will be daily illuminated by some 1,995 LED lights in blue or purple, depending on the day. Both colors are inspired by the Sumida River -- running at the tower's feet.

 

[EzikialRage]

I bet that building will attract a lot of site seers, tourists and thrill seekers.Although I'll feel sorry for the people living around that that should a natural disaster knock it down.

 

[Glassjaw]

It's already survived earthquakes! Been following its contruction for a while and the thing is just gigantic... Personally the massive ariel on top ruins the design for me but it's still a masterstroke in engineering.

 

[Gir633]

I bet that building will attract a lot of site seers, tourists and thrill seekers.Although I'll feel sorry for the people living around that that should a natural disaster knock it down.

I've been thinking that I wouldn't mind taking another trip to Tokyo, with seeing the Sky Tree as a major reason to go. (As opposed to another part of the country) It seems that it just sticks out above the city around it, that it would be rather impressive to see in person.


I wonder if all the monsters and disasters and other such will leave the poor Tokyo tower alone now and pick on the Sky Tree instead.

I've noticed a couple of the latest dramas, which always seems to have at least a coupe of scenes with the Tokyo Tower in the background, have had the Sky Tree instead. I wonder how the Tokyo Tower long one of the "symbols" of Japan will fare over the coming years.

 

[DegeneradoMX]

I've been thinking that I wouldn't mind taking another trip to Tokyo, with seeing the Sky Tree as a major reason to go. (As opposed to another part of the country) It seems that it just sticks out above the city around it, that it would be rather impressive to see in person.


I wonder if all the monsters and disasters and other such will leave the poor Tokyo tower alone now and pick on the Sky Tree instead.

I've noticed a couple of the latest dramas, which always seems to have at least a coupe of scenes with the Tokyo Tower in the background, have had the Sky Tree instead. I wonder how the Tokyo Tower long one of the "symbols" of Japan will fare over the coming years.

It all points that way.

 

[Wokkonno]

Here you can still see the tower in this webcam.
If you are interested .... http://www.dh-ryogoku.com/skytree/

Regards

 

[aquamarine]

Saw it lit up in a new fashion this evening - looked pretty cool. It was only lit up in 'segments' though which made kind of a weird HDR-photo style look to it. Actually...

OK nevermind. Looked out the window and only the airline-traffic lights are blinking. I'll have to take a few more photos later on when the lighting is fully on.

For now...