The Tokyo Central Post Office Building near Tokyo Station in the Marunouchi district of Tokyo has been granted a reprieve from demolition.

The ugly 1930s building, designed by Tetsuro Yoshida, was due to be redeveloped and a new 38-story tower rise in its place, saving only about 20% of the original facade.

Opposition to the plan from the Internal Affairs & Communication Ministry and its head Hatoyama Kunio has lead to a rethink from Japan Post Holdings Co. The Japanese Post Office was split up under the government of ex-PM Koizumi Junichiro and the new entities thus created now own the buildings they operate in.

The Osaka Central Post Office redevelopment is also now under review. The Kita ward building in central Osaka was designed by the same architect.

The Internal Affairs & Communication Ministry and Japan Post Holdings Co have already clashed over the proposed sale, subsequently canceled, of 79 Kampo no Yado hotels that Japan Post proposed to sell to Orix Corp. The Ministry intervened, claiming the value of the properties was undervalued.

The break up of Japan Post under Koizumi was a devisive issue for the ruling LDP at the time and remains so today.

© Japan Visitor.com


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