Sunshine 60
Encyclopedia
is a 60-story, mixed-use skyscraper
located in Ikebukuro
, Toshima, Tokyo
, adjoining the Sunshine City
complex. At the time of its completion in 1978, the 239.7 m (786 ft) building was the tallest in Asia
, a title it held until 1985 when it was surpassed by the 63 Building
in Seoul
. Sunshine 60 was also the tallest building in Tokyo and Japan until the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
was completed in 1991.
. The lower segment of the building is also reinforced concrete with a steel
skeleton. The upper tower is a steel skeleton with "slitted shear walls". These unique walls were inserted between columns in the core, allowing the walls to conform to deformations in the steel frame caused by earthquake
s and wind shear
helping to assure structural integrity. A rigid framing structural system creates the frame. Mechanical equipment is located directly above the core of the structure on its rooftop.
Sunshine 60 was erected over the site of the destroyed Sugamo Prison
, famously used to hold senior Japanese war criminals during the occupation
. On December 23, 1948, seven high-ranking, convicted war criminals (including former Prime Minister
Hideki Tojo
) were hanged at the prison. In popular modern lore, the area is rumored to be haunted.
From the 60th floor, visitors can see as far as 100 km on a clear day from Sunshine 60's observation deck
. To get visitors to the observation deck quickly, one of the tower's 40 elevators takes passengers directly from the lobby at a speed of 600 meters per minute (22.4 mph). This elevator is one of the fastest in the world.
, FamilyMart
, NTT Plala
and Sammy Corporation
, among other office tenants.
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Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
located in Ikebukuro
Ikebukuro
is a commercial and entertainment district in Toshima, Tokyo, Japan. Toshima ward offices, Ikebukuro station, and several shops, restaurants, and enormous department stores are located within city limits....
, Toshima, Tokyo
Toshima, Tokyo (ward)
is one of the 23 Special wards of Tokyo, Japan. Toshima is one of the eight central wards of the Tokyo Metropolitan area, including Chiyoda, Minato, Shibuya, Chuo, Shinjuku, Taito, and Bunkyo surrounding the Imperial Palace...
, adjoining the Sunshine City
Sunshine City, Tokyo
is a building complex located in East Ikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo. It is Tokyo's oldest city within the city and has the 240 metre tall Sunshine 60 skyscraper at its centre...
complex. At the time of its completion in 1978, the 239.7 m (786 ft) building was the tallest in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, a title it held until 1985 when it was surpassed by the 63 Building
63 Building
The 63 Building , officially the 63 City, is a skyscraper on Yeouido island, overlooking the Han River in Seoul, South Korea. At 249 meters high, it surpassed Sunshine 60 in Tokyo and became the tallest building outside North America when completed in 1985, but a few months later the title went to...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. Sunshine 60 was also the tallest building in Tokyo and Japan until the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
The , also referred to as Tokyo City Hall or Tochō for short, houses the headquarters of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which governs not only the 23 wards, but also the cities, towns and villages that make up Tokyo as a whole....
was completed in 1991.
Construction
Sunshine 60's foundation is made of reinforced concreteReinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
. The lower segment of the building is also reinforced concrete with a steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
skeleton. The upper tower is a steel skeleton with "slitted shear walls". These unique walls were inserted between columns in the core, allowing the walls to conform to deformations in the steel frame caused by earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
s and wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
helping to assure structural integrity. A rigid framing structural system creates the frame. Mechanical equipment is located directly above the core of the structure on its rooftop.
Sunshine 60 was erected over the site of the destroyed Sugamo Prison
Sugamo Prison
Sugamo Prison was located in the district of Ikebukuro, which is now part of the Toshima ward of Tokyo, Japan-History:...
, famously used to hold senior Japanese war criminals during the occupation
Occupied Japan
At the end of World War II, Japan was occupied by the Allied Powers, led by the United States with contributions also from Australia, India, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. This foreign presence marked the first time in its history that the island nation had been occupied by a foreign power...
. On December 23, 1948, seven high-ranking, convicted war criminals (including former Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
Hideki Tojo
Hideki Tōjō
Hideki Tōjō was a general of the Imperial Japanese Army , the leader of the Taisei Yokusankai, and the 40th Prime Minister of Japan during most of World War II, from 17 October 1941 to 22 July 1944...
) were hanged at the prison. In popular modern lore, the area is rumored to be haunted.
Facilities
As a mixed-use high-rise, Sunshine 60's space is used for a variety of things. Floors 1 through 9 are used as commercial space and house a post office, banks, showrooms, cafeterias, a health care center and a day care center. Office space occupies floors 10 through 57. Restaurants are located on the 58th and 59th floors.From the 60th floor, visitors can see as far as 100 km on a clear day from Sunshine 60's observation deck
Observation deck
__FORCETOC__ An observation deck, observation platform or viewing platform is an elevated sightseeing platform usually situated upon a tall architectural structure such as a skyscraper or observation tower...
. To get visitors to the observation deck quickly, one of the tower's 40 elevators takes passengers directly from the lobby at a speed of 600 meters per minute (22.4 mph). This elevator is one of the fastest in the world.
Office tenants
The office floors house the headquarters of Credit SaisonCredit Saison
Credit Saison Co., Ltd. , commonly known as Credit Saison or simply Saison, is a Japanese financial services company affiliated to Mizuho Financial Group. Founded in 1946, Credit Saison is the 3rd largest credit card issuer with over 20 million cardholders in Japan, behind JCB and Visa Japan.-...
, FamilyMart
FamilyMart
is a convenience store franchise chain first opened in Japan on September 1, 1981. FamilyMart is Japan's third largest convenience store chain, behind 7-Eleven and Lawson, and the largest chain store in South Korea. FamilyMart is owned and overseen by FamilyMart Company, Limited...
, NTT Plala
NTT Plala
Plala is a major Japanese Internet service provider operated by NTT Plala Inc. It was established in 1995 and focuses on personal internal service. Its major stockholder is NTT Communications Corp. The company's name was changed to "NTT Plala" from "Plala" on March 1, 2008. -External links:...
and Sammy Corporation
Sammy Corporation
was established on November 1, 1975 and is a leading developer and retailer of pachinko and pachislot systems in Japan.In 2001, Sammy Corporation created a subsidiary Sammy Entertainment, Inc. It would later change its name to Sammy Studios in 2002. Sammy Studios is responsible for developing and...
, among other office tenants.
See also
- Sunshine CitySunshine City, Tokyois a building complex located in East Ikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo. It is Tokyo's oldest city within the city and has the 240 metre tall Sunshine 60 skyscraper at its centre...
External links
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