The world's tallest communications tower has been completed in central Tokyo following nearly four years of construction, reported The Telegraph. Tokyo Sky Tree, which measures 634 meters in height, was finished two months behind schedule following delays caused by last year's earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis. However, operators of Tokyo Sky Tree, which will operate as a communications tower for the nation's broadcasting networks, hope the timely completion of the tower just before the first anniversary of the disaster will help boost the nation's tourism industry, which was been hit hard over the past year. The tower, located in Sumida block in the Asakusa district, is not only the loftiest communications tower ever built, it is also the world's second tallest building, eclipsed only by the 828 meters Burj Khalifa in Dubai. More than 580 thousand workers were involved in the construction of the US$ 800 million structure, which was inspired by traditional Japanese architect and painted a shade of blue-tinged white called "aojiro". Tokyo Sky Tree is set to become an iconic addition to the city's urban skyline, overshadowing other landmarks such as the 1958 red and white Tokyo Tower, which was previously used as the main broadcasting tower and long regarded a symbol of country's rapid post-war development. Now the tower has been completed, and the operator plans to finish the interior for stores and other facilities with an eye to opening them to the public on May 22.

Tokyo Sky Tree is on target to be the tallest structure in Japan upon completion in the spring of 2012, reported constructiondigital. Located in the Narihirabashi/Oshiage part of the Sumida Ward of Tokyo, the Tokyo Sky Tree broadcasting tower will soar nearly 634 meters into the sky, making it one of the tallest in the world and an icon of Japan. Designed by Nikken Sekkei, the tower, which resembles a large tree, will serve as a hub for the country's digital terrestrial broadcasting network. Additionally, the structure features two observation decks and is designed to withstand Japan's frequent earthquakes as well as strong winds. Though many may see this as Japan's way of getting in the race for the world's tallest structure, the height of the Tokyo Sky Tree serves an important function-it improves the towers ability to send the broadcasting signals over the tall skyscrapers of Tokyo. The base of the tower resembles a tripod. The three 'legs' anchor the structure to the ground. As it rises, the structure begins to curve around a central tube into the sky. Observatory levels at 350 meters and 450 meters allow visitors to have panoramic views of the urban landscape. The lower level will feature restaurants and retail opportunities. Japan isn't a stranger to earthquakes and strong storms. As a result, architects must design structures with disaster prevention features to withstand movement from above and below. Taking inspiration from the traditional Japanese pagoda, the tower relies on a central column for stability. According to the architects, "this system counters swaying set in motion by earthquake tremors and strong winds, ensuring a safe and reliable structure." The Obayashi Corporation is serving as the general contractor on the Tokyo Sky Tree project.

Japan considers building an alternative capital to allay fears of another natural disaster, reported constructiondigital.com. The devastation and human tragedies following the March 9.0 earthquake off the coast of Japan was a wake up call to government officials, who share concerns over the vulnerability of Japan's capital to such an event. Enough concern, in fact, for the leading Democratic Party is considering plans to build a backup Tokyo, 400 kilometer to the southwest. This "Plan B" city would house the government and curb economic losses if disaster, natural or otherwise, destroyed Japan's largest city. The proposed city would house much more than just emergency government officials, however. The plans include office towers, resorts, residential complexes, and more. There is even a bid to build "the tallest tower in the world" in what has been named Integrated Resort, Tourism, Business, and Backup City. Tokyo is home to nearly 35 million people in the greater metro area, and many wonder how the proposed city, built for a mere population of 200 thousand , could possibly serve a backup function to Japan's thriving capital. The proposed site is currently home to the underused "Itami Airport", and stretches for more than 5 thousand square meters. Already the project has received approval by Naoto Kan, the former prime minister, as well as the former trade and industry minister Banri Kaieda. Officials claim that over 90 percent of the funds for the city will come from private industry. Nate Berg over at The Atlantic Cities wonders, though, why this or similar funding won't be used to better prepare the current capital, should the unthinkable happen.

Japan needs to stop building skyscrapers after the March earthquake traumatized office workers and residents in tall buildings, said billionaire Akira Mori, the president of Mori Trust Co to news agency Bloomberg. Mori, Japan's third-richest person, said the government should consider setting a standard height for new buildings at about 100 meters, a level for so-called base- isolation systems that shift and reduce the energy of quakes to work best. An increase in tenants' preference for office space on lower floors may also make taller buildings less attractive, he said. Developers such as Mitsui Fudosan Co., Japan's largest real estate company, have been erecting taller buildings and reclaiming land to utilize space in Tokyo since the postwar economic boom gathered pace in the late 1960s. That led to so- called pencil buildings, which sit on a small plot of land disproportionate to the building's height. "Instead of constructing pencil buildings, it's better to jointly work with other real estate owners and developers to redevelopment larger projects," said Mori. "That way, we can increase the value of real estate." The Landmark Tower in Yokohama, a city south of Tokyo, is Japan's tallest building at 296 meters and 58th in the world, according to the Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. The 73-story building was developed by Mitsubishi Estate Co., the nation's second-biggest developer, and completed in 1993. The tallest building in central Tokyo, which includes the city's five main wards, is the 248-meter Midtown Tower built by Mitsui Fudosan. The Tokyo Sky Tree, a broadcasting tower, will be the tallest structure in Japan at 634 meters when it is completed in December. Tokyo suffered little damage to its buildings in the March 11 magnitude-9 earthquake, Japan's strongest. The nation has two magnitude-6.8 or larger earthquakes on average a year, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Even so, about 30 percent of 2,568 buildings in Japan are higher than 100 meters, or about 20 to 25 stories tall, according to estimates from Architectural Institute of Japan.

Japanese construction corporation Obayashi Corp., is planning to complete the construction of the world's tallest tower - Tokyo Sky Tree in spring 2012. A tower with a height of 634m previously was planned to be finished at the end of 2011. By turnover 2009, Obayashi Corp. is the world's 22 biggest construction company. The long uppermost section of tower is the "antenna tower" for digital-terrestrial broadcasts. Below of "antenna tower" it will be located the world's highest observatory deck with height of 450m. The developer of the tower is Tobu Tower Sky Tree Co., Ltd., architecture-Nikken Sekkei Ltd. Tokyo Sky Tree will equipped by 6 Toshiba elevators, four out of which are 40person elevators with a maximum speed of 600m/min, which are the fastest large capacity elevators in Japan. The new tower's foundation developed by Obayashi will be subjected to strong uplift and compressive forces from winds, earthquakes, and other factors. Note that record for the tallest building in the world still belongs to Burj Khalifa in Dubai with height 828m!