Towering above us stands the Yomiuri Shimbun Building a symbol of modern Japan. This structure is more than just steel and glass. It is a hub of information, culture, and resilience.
The Yomiuri Shimbun Building is the Tokyo headquarters of the Yomiuri Shimbun. This newspaper is part of the Yomiuri Group one of Japan’s largest media conglomerates. The building is also known as the Yomiuri Newspaper Tokyo Head Office Building.
Completed in 2013, the Yomiuri Shimbun Building rises 200 meters high with 33 stories above ground and three below. It is located in the Otemachi district of Tokyo. The building is equipped with the highest level of earthquake-resistant and disaster-prevention functions. This ensures that the newspaper can continue publishing even in a major disaster.
Inside the Yomiuri Shimbun Building are many facilities. The Editorial Bureau is here along with other divisions related to publishing the newspaper. But the building also opens its doors to the public with spaces like the Yomiuri Otemachi Hall.
Yomiuri Otemachi Hall is a multipurpose theater. It can seat 501 people. The hall hosts classical music concerts, film screenings, traditional performing arts and symposiums. The hall’s unique wall reflects sound in all directions. This provides exceptional acoustics.
Located inside Yomiuri Otemachi Hall is the Yomiuri Otemachi Small Hall. This event space has a flat floor. Tables and chairs can be arranged freely. It is suitable for seminars, meetings, exhibitions and parties of about 200-300 people.
The Yomiuri Gallery is also in the building. It features a 24-meter-long exhibition case. The gallery hosts special exhibitions related to The Yomiuri Shimbun. Exhibits include the history of the Tokyo-Hakone Intercollegiate Ekiden relay race and journalistic photographs.
For those interested in learning about newspapers, the Shimbun Kyoshitsu offers company tours. Fourth graders and older can experience the work of reporters. They can learn about the various jobs at a newspaper. There is also the News Lab an exhibition space showing the history of The Yomiuri Shimbun.
The Yomiuri Shimbun Building also houses the Yomiuri Shop. Here, you can find goods related to “Neko Pitcher” a popular manga series. You can also purchase merchandise related to the Yomiuri Giants professional baseball team.
The Yomiuri Clinic is located on the sixth floor. It provides medical services to Yomiuri employees and local residents. The clinic was established in 1929. It moved to the Yomiuri Shimbun Building in 2014 and was given its current name.
The Yomikaki no Mori Nursery serves children from 57 days old to pre-school age. It accepts children of Yomiuri Shimbun employees and those of workers at nearby companies. The facility is the first in-company nursery in the newspaper industry in Japan.
The Yomiuri Shimbun Building stands as a testament to the power of information. It is a place where news is made, culture is celebrated and community is fostered.