Copyright Newsweek
A new landmark in central Tokyo is taking shape, as Japan’s tallest building, the 385-meter (approximately 1,260 feet) Torch Tower, has begun the ground-level installation of the massive diagonal steel columns that form the lower structure of the tower’s core. Newsweek has contacted the architectural firm overseeing the project, Mitsubishi Jisho Design, for comment. Why It Matters The race for the world’s tallest building is global, with the U.S., once a leader, now challenged by the Middle East’s ambitious skyscrapers. Asia also hosts some of the world’s tallest towers, highlighting rising competition across regions. Cities across the United States are engaging in a vertical race, with new skyscraper projects aiming to redefine their skylines. The proposed Oklahoma City's Legends Tower, a 1,907-foot structure, would be the tallest building in the U.S. upon completion. What To Know Dubbed by its contractors as "the tallest ultra-high-rise building in Japan," the Torch Tower is planned to have 62 floors, host offices, shops, residences, a luxury hotel, a 2,000-seat hall and an observation deck, anchored by a 7,000 m² plaza. The tower’s structure, engineered over a decade to safely carry a skyscraper in earthquake-prone Tokyo, features a system called a “damped braced tube” that is designed to absorb seismic shocks and stabilize tall buildings against twisting and swaying. Unlike traditional horizontal and vertical columns, diagonal beams encircling the tower will form a unified tube that reinforces its structural integrity, according to the company. Construction on the tower began in September 2023 near Tokyo Station’s Nihonbashi exit, in central Tokyo’s historic business district. The project envisions a spacious plaza at the tower’s base, with water features, greenery, and a seamless connection to Tokiwabashi Park. Mitsubishi Estate is the developer and Shimizu Corporation is overseeing construction. The world’s tallest towers include Burj Khalifa in Dubai, Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai Tower, the Makkah Royal Clock Tower in Saudi Arabia, Ping An Finance Center in Shenzhen, Lotte World Tower in Seoul, and One World Trade Center in New York City, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), a Chicago-based nonprofit organization. What People Are Saying Mitsubishi Jisho Design said on its website: "The building aims to be a place that disseminates information from all over Japan, connects the regions with Tokyo, and brings together a diverse range of people. " What Happens Next The tower is planned for completion by 2028.
