TOKYO

The station’s history illustrates many challenges. The building construction halted at a single story when government funding faltered. Luckily, after the war, the government increased the money to construct a three-story facility and a central exit exclusively for the Imperial family. Natural disasters and man-made conflict also played a role in its development. It survived the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 but it suffered major damages in the firebombing in 1945 during World War II. Although it was initially created to be temporary and last 4-5 years, it has lasted more than 60 years with renovations. Over the years it has been transformed from a terminal used only for transit into a major tourist spot, an access point for commuters, and an initiative to travel. Each time it had been renovated, it maintained a bit of “old” Tokyo and a bit of “new” Tokyo that speaks to the value Japanese culture has. The opposite sides of the station reflect its outcome. The Marunouchi side reflects the history and tradition in the form of its old redbrick walls and stone façade, while the Yaesu on the opposite side shows a modern urban appearance with advanced technology. The rotundas, dome-like round rooms, retained their original look including the octagonal corners and plaster reliefs of the animals of the zodiac while the station’s foundation upgraded to a seismic base-isolation system that is meant to absorb earthquakes and prevent it from collapsing. [2]