Mori Building opens new development in Tokyo, part of push to revitalize the city
Tokyo is constantly recreating itself
TOKYO — Razed a century ago by an earthquake and fire and then again by bombing during World War II, Tokyo is constantly recreating itself.
These days, multibillion-dollar redevelopment projects are replacing aging downtown neighborhoods of tiny two-story homes and apartments, and in some cases cherished green spaces, with massive mixed office, retail and residential centers designed to help the city burnish its status as a desirable home for global business.
Mori Building, one of the biggest players in this effort led mainly by private developers, is putting the finishing touches on two big projects. Toranomon Hills Station Tower, a skyscraper with office space that's part of the earlier Mori Toranomon Hills project, is opening Friday.
Mori JP Tower, a 64-story, 325-meter (1,067-foot) -tall skyscraper that will be Japan’s tallest structure, is part of Mori Building's 600 billion yen ($6 billion) Azabudai Hills project, which is set to open in November.
More projects are in the works.
Shingo Tsuji, CEO of Mori Building, says he hopes to help Tokyo compete as a world city and destination for foreign investment. It’s a goal that has been gaining urgency as the Japanese economy has slowed while the population shrinks and quickly ages.
“When the world is globalizing, everyone is doing business worldwide, not just locally. People choose the city they’re going to make the Asian hub, be it Tokyo, Hong Kong or Singapore. If Tokyo gets chosen, people will gather here, and it can keep growing,” he told The Associated Press in a recent interview.
Tsuji took over as CEO from Minoru Mori, son of the Mori real estate empire’s founder Taikichiro Mori, in 2011. He inherited from Minoru Mori, who
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