Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Assembly Buildings

• Location: Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan

• Architect: Kenzo Tange

• Style: Postmodern

• Completed in: 1990

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, is located in Nishi-Shinjuku, one of Tokyo's busiest and the most prominent district, known for its modern skyscrapers.

Tokyo is unique among Japan's prefectures as it serves both as a prefecture and a metropolis, officially called the Tokyo Metropolis. Unlike other prefectures, it is divided into 23 special wards, each with its own local government, along with suburban cities, towns, villages, and remote islands. As Japan's capital, Tokyo is the political, economic, and cultural centre of the country, with a population and economy far surpassing other prefectures. It also plays a key global role as a major hub for international finance, diplomacy, and culture. Governed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, its administrative responsibilities extend beyond those of typical prefectures, managing citywide services like transportation, urban planning, and disaster preparedness.

The building houses the offices of the Governor of Tokyo, one of Japan's most influential political positions. Policies and decisions made here often set precedents for other regions in Japan, emphasizing Tokyo's leadership role in national and international affairs. Beyond its administrative role, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building stands as a visible and enduring symbol of Tokyo's power—both as a governing body and as a global metropolis. Standing at 243 meters, its towering presence in Shinjuku reflects the city's ambition, leadership, and resilience.

Also, it is common in Japan for the prefectural assembly building to be located adjacent to the prefectural government building to facilitate efficient communication and coordination between the legislative and executive branches of the prefectural government. This proximity allows assembly members and government officials to collaborate more effectively on policy-making, budget approvals, and administrative oversight. The shared location also symbolizes the integrated functioning of these two branches, ensuring streamlined governance and addressing local issues more cohesively. This arrangement reflects Japan's emphasis on practical and centralized administrative structures at the prefectural level.

For a long time, the Tokyo government offices were spread across Tokyo, making coordination and administration less efficient. By the 1980s, the Tokyo government desperately needed a centralized headquarters to manage its growing responsibilities. The building was designed by the famous Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, renowned for blending modernism with traditional Japanese aesthetics. Construction began in 1988 and was completed in 1990.

With the Postmodern architectural style having two twin interconnected towers, the design of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building has been inspired by Gothic cathedrals, especially, the Notre-Dame de Paris showcasing a symmetrical, vertical structure that conveys authority and elegance.

"Inspired by two towers of Notre-dame de Paris"

The design of the façade is said to incorporate geometric pattern of Tateshige shoji (a Japanese traditional room divider) and also motifs reminiscent of computer microchips, symbolizing Tokyo's status as a global technological hub. The cladding is a precast concrete curtain wall with a granite facer.

"Details of façade"

"Main lobby of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building"

"Compartmentalization for the rolling fire doors"

"Grand stairs"

The top floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is open for the public as an observation deck.

"View of Tokyo from observation deck"

Across the street, there stands an oval-shape Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Building interconnected with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building by skybridges as one large complex.

"Oval-shape Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Building"

"Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Building"

The curved colonnades of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Building was designed after those of the St. Peter's Square in Vatican.

"Curved colonnades of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Building"

"Curved colonnades of the St. Peter's Square"

The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly is composes of 127 elected members, it is responsible for enacting ordinances, approving budgets, and supervising the executive functions of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Members are elected every four years from districts across Tokyo, reflecting its diverse population.

"Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Hall"

"The Chair of the President of Assembly and of the Governor"

The circular window right above the chair of the president of assembly is linked to the circular window outside of the assembly building. This window corresponds to another circular window with the same size at the same height which installed near the governor's office. This symbolizes that the Metropolitan Assembly and the Metropolitan Government are autonomous but equal.

"Windows signifying autonomy"

The Metropolitan Assembly forms a special committee to examine the budget every year or to resolve any special issues, which takes place in the No. 15 Budget Conference Room.

"No.15 Budget Conference Room"

Right next to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, there stands the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 2 which is connected by the skybridge. The cladding facer of the skybridge is not, however, a real granite stone panel like other parts of the building, because it would be too heavy for the skybridge to have a stone facer. In stead, it is sprayed with a paint-coating which looks like granite.

"Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 2"

Reference:

ArchDaily. (2016, August 8). AD Classics: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building / Kenzo Tange. Retrieved December 19, 2024, from https://www.archdaily.com/793703/ad-classics-tokyo-metropolitan-government-building-kenzo-t

Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly. (n.d.). Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly (English brochure). Retrieved December 19, 2024, from https://www.gikai.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/foreignlanguage/pdf/english.pdf

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Finance. (n.d.). Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building – Arekore. Retrieved December 19, 2024, from https://www.zaimu.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/totyousya/totyoushaarekore

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. In Wikipedia. Retrieved December 19, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Metropolitan_Government_Building