Perhaps you’ve noticed how the Shin-Kasumigaseki Building punctuates the Tokyo skyline. This 36-story skyscraper in Kasumigaseki is more than just a building. It is a landmark.
Completed in 1968, the Shin-Kasumigaseki Building holds a special place in Japanese architectural history. It is widely regarded as Japan’s first modern office skyscraper. Before its construction, the Building Standard Law limited building heights to 31 meters. That is about 102 feet. In 1963, this limit was abolished. The Shin-Kasumigaseki Building ushered in a new era of high-rise construction.
The Shin-Kasumigaseki Building reaches a height of 147 meters. That is 482 feet. It was the tallest building in Japan from 1968 to 1970. The building boasts 36 floors above ground and three below. Its total floor area covers 153,234 square meters. That is approximately 1,649,400 square feet. The grounds cover 16,320 square meters. That is 175,700 square feet.
Kajima Construction designed and built the Shin-Kasumigaseki Building. The company even backed a film about it called Chōkōsō no Akebono. This translates to “The Dawn of the Super Skyscraper”. The Shin-Kasumigaseki Building became a symbol of large volumes. This comparison lasted until the construction of the Tokyo Dome.
Inside, the Shin-Kasumigaseki Building features 29 passenger elevators and six freight elevators. These elevators were supplied by Toyo Otis and Hitachi. Hitachi also provided Japan’s fastest elevator at the time, traveling at 300 meters per minute. That is about 984 feet per minute.
The Kasumi Kaikan owns the Shin-Kasumigaseki Building. This association consists of descendants of the kazoku high nobility. The Kazoku Kaikan, the previous association, originally owned the plot. It was changed after World War II in 1947. The Kasumi Kaikan maintains club rooms on the 34th floor. These rooms are exclusively for members.
Many notable organizations have offices in the Shin-Kasumigaseki Building. The Asian Development Bank Institute has its head office on the 8th floor. The Asian Development Bank also has its Japan offices on the same floor. The Children and Families Agency has its head office in the building too.
In the past, All Nippon Airways and Mitsui Chemicals had their headquarters here. Nippon Cargo Airlines also started within All Nippon Airways’ space in the building. Even airlines like Garuda Indonesia and Union des Transports Aériens once had offices here. PricewaterhouseCoopers once occupied the 15th floor.
The Shin-Kasumigaseki Building stands as a testament to Japan’s architectural innovation. It changed building technology. It helped transform Tokyo into a modern metropolis. The building represents a pivotal moment in Japanese history. Its legacy continues to inspire.