Tokyo Nakano Sun Closing

Along with the Koseinenkin Kaikan, the Shibuya Kokaido and the Hibiya Kokaido, Sun Plaza was one of only four large concert halls in Tokyo that presented foreign pop artists until the 1990s, when a building boom produced hundreds of new concert halls nationwide. Located in the western portion of Tokyo, the hall was part of a large public complex that included the Nakano Ward offices as well as a wedding hall, a gymnasium and other events facilities.

At one point, it was also one of the tallest buildings in Tokyo, and over the years it has received a number of architecture awards.

The complex is still 100 percent owned by the ward government, which has decided to completely redevelop 4.8 hectares of land near Nakano Station, a parcel that includes Sun Plaza. The plan for the redevelopment project should be completed by the end of 2015 at which point demolition will begin.

In similar news, another landmark, the Sapporo Clock Tower located in the city of Sapporo on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, has been designated an “important cultural property” by the central government. Rather than carry out a full renovation of the building, its interior will be transformed into a music performance hall. The proposal is part of the city’s bid to become more of a cultural center in Japan and not just Hokkaido.