Why Japan's CAPSULE Tower is about to Disappear | Tokyo Demolition 

So sad to see the Nakagin Capsule tower finally go, though glad to have preserved it in some small way through these videos. If you missed the Abroad in Japan documentary where we actually went inside and interviewed an owner of a capsule, be sure to check it out! Show the building some love before it's gone! 🍿Easily one of my favourite documentaries we produced last year: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-6SwvtBxxp2w.html

I'm really sad that I never got to visit Japan before the pandemic, it seems alot of these iconic magical parts of Tokyo's mystique are vanishing, like the Sega building, Harajuku Station and the Capsule Tower :(

With the "tiny home" craze, the idea of having one small home you can ship to a new city and new building seems neat. It's a shame it didn't work out

You hit the nail on the head for me, Chris. It's not as much about losing the building, it's that it's going to be replace with something ugly and boring. I don't understand why we can't have buildings that are both modern and functioning, while being aesthetic pleasing.

It's not only an important Tokyo Landmark, we talk about a very unique architectural movement that now people will be able to experience only on books. Nakagin was the most important building of the metabolism movement, probably the only one that encapsulated the theory in such a good way. It was a piece of the history of architecture and consequently should have been preserved before deciding to demolish it. Such a pity that people won't be able to visit it anymore.

Sad news, that tower looked unique and interesting and it's a shame that the Tokyo skyline is going to lose that bit of character. Pete's point about global homogenisation is sad but true too.

It kinda feels like in general, Japan is trying to lose it's "weird" image. I remember hearing about an ice cream place in Sunshine city that had DOZENS of weird flavors like cow tongue and shark fin, but when I actually went it was gone. Thankfully I was lucky and I did get to see this building and the Harajuku station, really sad to hear they're both gone.

I went to Japan in 2010 and took many photos of this place, including the original display capsule they had in the ground floor - you could look in the porthole and see the old Sony TV, tape recorder etc. I remember the entrance lobby being a bit dark and forbidding, with a notice to the effect "this is not a capsule hotel"... bit surprised to learn about the big red Sega building, that's in a lot of my photos as well.

This building was unique but very impractical. Couldn't even open a window. Tokyo has lost a lot of unique buildings. High on my list is the Sofitel Hotel in Ueno. When I visited Japan in 2004 it was a bonkers looking building. By the time I returned in 2009 it was gone.

Like most 'high-tec' 'customisable' buildings it ended up being much less flexible and practical then a normal building.

I studied the Nakagin tower for an essay as part of my architecture degree and I’ve always wanted to visit it because of this. Really sad that I never got the chance to see it in person but it’s lived it’s life

The building represents the essence of late-Showa-era Japan - hurried urbanization and technological innovation. The grimey exterior it later took on only added to the Blade Runner-like aura and made the building stand out even more as an anachronistic part of the skyline. I'm torn about this building. On one hand, it is constant redevelopment that has allowed Tokyo to be relatively affordable compared to cities like New York, London, San Francisco et al. Additionally, as another commenter noted, this building could be preserved, but it will become nothing more than a giant art piece. On the other hand, saving this one building alone will not raise rents across Tokyo, and character is an important element that gives a place an identity. The jumbled chaotic character of Golden Gai will always be preferred by locals and visitors alike over a sterile mall development that looks like any other sterile mall development in the world.

I have some good memories of that building. When I lived in Tokyo in the 80s an employer of mine owned one of the units and let me stay there from time to time. It was a perfect city bolthole. Thanks for the footage of the bathroom, too. I'd forgotten how small it was! I'm so sorry it's being torn down but I'm grateful that I had a chance to experience such an iconic building first hand!

Thanks to 2020 I've still never been to Japan/Tokyo. This with Sega buildings was on my list. And now both gone.... I'm still gonna do my trip whenever Japan makes it possible, but it's so sad to not be able to see this stuff that I've been watching in hundreds of RU-vid videos from Japan

I'd love to see a modern version of this tower made. Windows that open, or capsules that at least allow for outside air ventilation. A more modern and functional built-in hidden storage and furniture. I actually really like the bathroom design with it's rounded edges. Who knows, maybe even capsules that could be replaced without having to remove the surrounding ones. But definitely keep those big round windows, they're gorgeous! Just make them more functional. I live in a 10 room house, plus basement, it's filled with stuff I don't use and rooms I don't even go in-i find myself really wanting to live in a small space like this.

Hey Chris! I just wanted to say one thing regarding the destruction of this building. Its architect, Kisho Kurokawa, was part of the Metabolism architecture movement - something which came into being within Japan around 1960. While it's sad to Nakagin go, as I personally love it, the main philosophy behind the Metabolists' buildings was the idea of change and adaptability - designing buildings that would fit the needs of the Japanese population, and which could change and adapt to fit those needs as well. Hence the removable capsules on the tower, and hence the name "Metabolism" ( a process of change) for the style of architecture. Anyway, my point is just that as sad as I am to see this building go, I think it's what Kurokawa would have wanted. The fact that the building fell into disrepair and became largely unusable reflects that it wasn't able to achieve its goal of adapting to the needs of society in the way which he would have wanted. Maybe I'm just trying to think on the bright side, but I still hope that many of these capsules can at least be preserved.

This definitely makes me sad. I’m in the architecture field and one of my interests is historic buildings and trying to save them by implementing adaptive reuse strategies (basically making them work as a functional modern space while preserving what makes the unique and historically significant) so this hurts my soul. I definitely think unfortunately this was left for too long and let to rot too much to save but I hope a piece of it is at least preserved. We also already tried international style, where no matter what country you went to the buildings looked the same, it was boring. I really hope all cities don’t end up with that generic built up look over time. They’re doing it to my home town and ripping out the gorgeous historic brick homes and it just doesn’t really make sense.

There are some very divisive buildings (e.g. Boston City Hall or other brutalist buildings) that are hated by many, and loved by others. No matter how someone feels about them, they are a point of conversation, and tell you a lot about the place and time they were built. No one is on the fence about them, and I love that they exist. I hope they continue to be preserved and restored.

I was supposed to go to Japan literally just a couple of weeks after travel restrictions hit. This is one of the buildings I was looking forward to seeing. Sad that these things are being lost without a thought of preservation, though it's like that here in America as well. Definitely gives you a punch right in the nostalgia thinking about cool unique places you used to frequent that are no longer there/are being torn down.

This news has made me really sad, I knew it was coming but still. Nakagin Tower was on my bucket list of buildings to visit in Japan, I loved everything about it's design and concept. Sad that I never got to see it first hand, but I appreciate you covering this again before it's gone forever!

On reflection the knocking-down of Harajuku station seems to me a bigger crime because the capsule building was going rusty and had asbestos issues and mold. At least one capsule will be preserved which i'm pleased to say was what I hoped they'd do.

Sad to see how such a creative piece of architecture is getting demolished

I finally managed to check it out a couple of weeks ago and take some photos before the destruction began. Sad to see it going for good, but thanks to your videos, we'll always have something to look back on. You've done a better job of preserving it than anyone in local governments!

It’s why I love the Edinburgh old town so much (apart from the bias of being born here) the facade of the buildings haven’t changed for centuries and they’re all listed buildings now so have to be renovated to the style they were originally built in. Sure the rest of Edinburgh modernises, but this small slice of the town is still in the 1800’s.

It's awesome to know that you cemented the history of that building in your own way. Your videos matter for more than just entertainment value.

I remember the video you made of this a while back. It’s truly, truly sad to see the demolition happening. Although, as sad as I am to see this iconic building disappear, I’d like to express my thanks and appreciation for the two videos you’ve posted of this place. At least us viewers could see it albeit through a phone screen or other.

I haven't been to Tokyo in five years and It's crazy how many iconic and interesting places have already disappeared or have been made unrecognizable. Entire blocks of charming , atmospheric shops and pubs turned into singular glass monoliths or boring copycat department stores. It's not too surprising, but seeing places like Tsukiji market, Harajuku station, The Capsule Tower, Miyashita Park, Shibuya stream etc. disappear is quite jarring. Even the little places like Kubizuka (Taira no Masakado's grave) have been made to look much less interesting.

This is so incredibly sad. I feel similarly to Pete. Stuff like Nakagin are what started my love for Japan. In a way, it makes the country feel less appealing. But realistically I know that Nakagin and many others are just what introduced me to a wonderfully different culture and world from my own and started me down the path of wanting to learn about the world and the cultures that exist within. It's a very bitter sweet moment coming to this conclusion through the destruction of something that essentially started it all. Thank you for making your video inside of the building and keeping updated on it so that some of us who could unfortunately never experience it in person, could live it vicariously through you and your content. Much love and respect to you, man!

One thing I've experienced while travelling is that big cities often feel very samey no matter where in the world you are. Sure, there are some identifiers, but i feel a lot of the identity has been lost as knowledge of how to most cheaply and efficiently build functional buildings spreads. While the inside of these buildings are definitely comfortable, there is something spiritual about the exterior that seem lost over time.

Damn this is so sad… I had an English project about describing a “strange” house and after watching Chris video about the Nakagin Capsule Tower, I chooses this fascinating architecture, while I did say that they were planning its demolition I didn’t expect it to actually happen…

Golden content, Chris. Good that you got a recording of the tower inside as well last year. Digital archiving I believe is good and you are doing exact that, Chris. Have a good one.

It saddens me everytime a cool place I'd love to visit just vanishes. I really appreciate this video Chris, it helps bringing us a little bit closer to places that deserve to be remembered over the years. Thank you!

Got here super early! Love everyone of your videos! Especially these types, shedding light on important parts of tokyo and the ongoing changes in it. Sad to see the tower go, but glad to have it memoralized in these vidoes

I am happy I was able to see the tower in person in 2016. Never went inside though. Truly a unique building and I am sad to see it go, just like I am about the old Harajuku station being torn down.

I love the bromance you and Pete have going on. Adds a nice touch of levity to a bit of a downer vid. Thanks for sharing this slice of history in action!

This was one of the buildings that was so intriguing to me while studying architecture so it’s quite sad to see it go. Thank you for sharing it with us. I would love to see you visit some more of Tadao Ando’s buildings too. I love your channel. Keep up the great work Chris. Cheers.

Thanks for documenting it while it was still around.

Imagine all the history that once existed around us that has no evidence anymore because it's been demolished or worn away through time. I'm glad you made this video, so that at least a small part of it lives on for others to experience.

I love the retro style music in your video, it sets such a great mood for the whole thing! Thanks for the great content!

Thanks for the update!

Ahhh the Nakagin Capsule tower you adore is finally... It really did kind of feel like they weren't going to do it and it'll forever be "demolished soon" but it's finally happening. Would be nice if the new building maintained the look of the Nakagin Capsule... it is quite unique after all.

Story of Japan. I used to live in an old house that was at least 80 years old. No one believed me because a lot of the houses that old were either destroyed in WWII or a big earthquake, but if you look at the construction, there were no nails used, so it proved to be that old. the owner passed away and the land was sold. Now sit 5 boxes.

I was lucky enough to visit Tokyo in April 2019 and I didn't realise that SEGA and the Harajuku Station were going to disappear. I have fond memories of those buildings even from a 2 week trip, but sadly no photos :(

Hi Chris, thank you for taking us to the original Nakagin Tower in your last video. I appreciate the follow-up showing the demolition of the building. I think of it as a metaphor for ways of thinking and living that have passed. Cheers...

Was fortunate enough to see it during my last trip to Japan, even took a picture of the building without knowing it was famous nor that it was going to be demolished. Feels very nostalgic and sad, but at least I saw it first hand! Thanks for sharing and documenting!

I can’t say I share Chris’ love for the capsule tower, but I appreciate his passion. A true shame to replace something beautiful like Harajuku Station with a concrete and glass box though. As for the rest só much of what I thought of as “Japan” from my childhood seems to be going. Wish I could have experienced it.

Hey Chris! Great video for a great piece of architecture! Really glad that you are giving it all the attention it deserves. I'm actually working on a school project for my master thesis reacting to the lost of this iconic building and questioning what may follow in it footstep. It may be a shot in the dark but I was wondering if I could use some of your footage of the demolition for an exposition!

Chris make more videos like the ones you show some cool and old, classic places, it's so amazing to see

I love the design of this building, really is iconic and timeless. Even though its being taken down I would appreciate a new building having the same visual appearance but internally it functions as a traditional building without the same drawbacks.

I loved watching the documentary you made on this building as it was such a unique building, which makes it a shame to come down. Although this building is old and is deemed as unsafe, it's still sad to see something like this go so it's great to have videos like this immortalise the building. If anything, videos such as these could be seen as lessons for future architecture. Hell, these could even be inspiration for more sustainable buildings in the future!

Loved the little touch of putting the source of the article you read in the video.

Thanks for making these videos. I always wanted to visit and am sad I never got the chance, but love the in depth video you made on the capsule tower.

I've seen Japan through you and Sharla and you were super quick making this video! It is bittersweet feels like 2002 is both alive because of 2022 fashion trends and disappearing because of this demolition! We're living history and I wish you all the success in your career no matter what it is you decide to do with your time 🐝

Such a shame, I remember watching your earlier video on this place and I really fell in love with it. I hoped I would have the chance to see it in person for myself, but I guess not.

Yes! Thank you for preserving the history!

Love this short style update video

Sad news. Enjoyed your video on the tower, and it actually stirred my imagination. It got me thinking that the concept could work pretty well in a sci-fi setting. You know, a completely modular living habitat that can hauled station to station. Definitely got something to it, I'll have to use it. Great job as always, Chris.

I happened to visit Japan before the whole pandemic and experienced the Harajuku station to only recently find out through your multiple videos that it no longer had that great design. It's truly a shame that uniqueness is already frowned upon due their collective society and now they're applying that standardization to buildings as well. I never got to see the Nakagin Building, but I'll miss it all the same.

Sad to see it gone, your original video on it was one of my favorites

Thank you for sharing this building with us . I really enjoyed the tour of inside . Prayers for buildings with uniqueness for today forward 🙏🙌

Suppose it had to happen eventually, still sad to see it go! at least we'll have the videos to remember it by

NOOO! Their actually getting rid of it. Damn man... It's sad to see it go, especially with how unique it is. I hope I can visit one of its capsules in a museum one day, at the very least. Thank you Chris for making this video, its crazy to think its already been a year since you first uploaded the original documentary.

I remember watching your documentary about the nakagin capsule tower. And the uniqueness and dynamics of the building made me really excited to go see it when I would be able to travel to Japan. I was looking forward too it. It's a shame that it couldn't have been revitalized in some way years ago. So it wouldn't have to be torn down. Quite Unfortunate. I'm glad atleast your videos will have some preservation or memory of what the building was like :) great video Chris! :)

I literally watched this video yesterday ANd was curious what had happened. Thanx for this update.

This is really sad. It’s just really sad. I don’t know what else to say really. It’s just really sad. - Connor

it's a real shame. It should have been preserved as a historical landmark, the design is superb against the generic architecture.

Love your videos Chris, I've never been to Japan... thank you for showing me what it looks like through your eyes.

Thank you for making this video. I visited the building years ago. Sad seeing it being torn down.

There's a park near where me with a feature called "the stroll of the giant" which has a lot of scale models on a path that show iconic buildings, towers, and sculptures from all around the world. Among the few Japanese buildings was the capsule tower, and I've wanted to visit it since I first saw it, and especially after your video about it. Obviously there's enough reasons to tear it down, but it's still a shame when these iconic buildings are demolished.

This is a real tragedy, especially considering how well-known Nakagin is in as an architectural masterwork. That it was allowed to fall into disrepair in the first place is a shame, and I can’t help think that it could have been repurposed in some way. Artist’s studios, a museum for architecture, a destination capsule hotel? But while sad, it’s not exactly a surprise that it ended like this. I did a course on modernist architecture as an exchange student in Tokyo, and almost everything we went to see was either slated to be demolished or in danger of the same. I do wonder if some day the japanese will change their approach to historic buildings and mourn what they lost in this time. After all, Sweden, where I live now, was ruthlessly tearing down historic buildings and building modernist blocks all through the 50s, 60s and 70s, but nowadays they are so averse to demolition that even the (widely hated) buildings from that period are treated as historic treasures and carefully preserved.

I want to see more Pete in your videos he has a very pleasant vibe which makes videos I watch with him in it really relaxing

Thank you for the video.

So sad. This building is one of the places in Japan that I wanted to visit before I died. Retirement is still a bit off and overseas vacations at this point would make the budget just to tight. Sucks. Hope it's not a soulless, faceless, cooperate monstrosity that replaces it.

When you had done the video last year, are they going to take some of the capsules and send them to some museums? ( question answered) it would have been very interesting to see it. Thank you for sharing a part of Japan's history through your video's ... and it is a shame that Japan doesn't really share that fascination of old things like we do in the west ... it is a pity that it's only "one capsule" where they could have sent out a few :( thank you for sharing an historical sad day :)

How sad but, thanks Chris for giving us a tour of what the building looked like in the inside. That helped some of us to understand the beauty of this building, sad to see its going and some of us never had the chance to see it in person. Feeling sorry for something you never saw in person but developed an emotion towards it because of the videos, That's the magic of this channel, it takes you to places and makes you feel like you were actually there.

I appreciate you took the time to make one last video documenting it and your thoughts on it. I wish I would've been able to see it myself but it's just a reminder that nothing lasts forever.

I'm deeply saddened that the iconic sega building replaced by bland one displaying a predatory money sink game. I just hope that whatever replacing the capsule tower won't be anything like that.

It is an amazing architecture, the concept and structure really meant for growing urban. As an architect major it is so sad that this will be another architectural wonder.

Your an unbelievably lucky guy Chris, uv seen a lot of Japan that is now lost to time. I really hope to visit Japan soon! Awesome video as always dude.

I'm very glad you got the chance to film inside the capsule tower. At least with that, it's preserved for as long as youtube stands (and hopefully beyond that if people opt to save the video!).

Oh i remember the building from the video, sad to see the relic go Edit: also there's American Pete hell yeah

Aw man, that's so sad! I hope they put something epic in its place rather than another bland nondescript towerblock. 😔

Your videos will serve as an archive and the building will live on for future generations. Nice work Chris :)

Wow, I remember when the video about it came out, so this is really something showing how time flies but also how sad it is to see an amazing thing go.

I’ve always thought the building was cool. The issue with preservation is cost. Who is going to pay for it to be brought up to modern standards and then the upkeep from there? It’s often cheaper to start over than it is to spend on a money pit.

I'd personally like to see a return to traditional architechture, they offer so much more character and feel more human. Not matter where you go now, most cities look identical with their tower blocks and glass skyscrapers. They're not even built to last, they just fit a trend for 20-30 years and then get demolished, for the next trend.

Big sad. Glad you guys got to go see it before it's completely gone. Seems like just yesterday you posted the video touring it.

that building has been on my bucket list to visit forever. so sad i wont get to accomplish that now :( but i'm glad you filmed an inside tour for us at least!

I’ve lived in Japan since I was 13 but I never once visited the hotel, even though I live an hour away from Tokyo. Man, I wish I could go 😢 Update: Along with the Sega building, I’ve always gone there with my friends/family whenever we went to Akiba. So sad that it’s gone now too, had a lot of amazing memories there with my friends. Will always be remembered!

Makes me really sad actually, you see this in the USA too like driving past any Mcdonalds (stupid comparison but hear me out) you don't see any golden arches or big red roof with the play area for children, its all been replaced with big grey squares. It's like in the last 20 years any form of "fun" has been replaced with bland "business" colors and shapes. It really makes me sad to see Japan's actually historical and traditional buildings going away in place of just... grey. That Sega building is probably what I would've described Tokyo to be like (I've never been) not all that grey. It's ok to be fun and striking even in business but what's called "professional" is really just soul sucking, bland, grey. The world doesn't need to look like the Dursleys neighborhood for crying out loud. You can't even call those buildings beautiful. Nobody is going to Tokyo to take pictures of buildings that look all the same as every other building, everywhere else in the world. In a weird irony it's like Japan is losing it's soul to be more efficient or cost effective and in turn is losing what makes it different and JAPAN. I can see big grey squares in many other cities in the world, but no where else will I see traditional style Japanese architecture, and soon I won't even be able to see it in Japan =(

I love these mini vlogs

This is probably the most passionate I've seen Chris about anything, that's how you know it's of significance.

Honestly I'm all for buildings that have basically failed or outlived their purpose being torn down, especially ones I see as eyesores. This video did kind of make me see why people want to preserve them though sometimes in terms of identity. I suppose in a city as big as Tokyo local/ district identity is an important thing.

Similar situations can be seen with companies like Nintendo and Sony who have such a poor reputation when it comes to preserving their own products. It often takes mass backlash for them to even consider doing such things. It seems to be an issue inherent to the Japanese mentality as a whole. For a country that deeply respects its distant past, its sad to see the same approach not taken with the things they are creating now.

Thanks for documenting this, a historic moment any way you slice it.

Really sad to see it torn down. Wish they could restore or replicate a few more for museums and such. Nice video. Keep up the good work.

I can't tell you how many times I've seen richer towns and cities than my own little home here in the Scottish lowlands, only to be wildly disappointed by how drab and similar everything looks.

I love to see you hanging out in Tokyo! I know you're probably sick of it but I would love to see you do a Rambalac style walking video through tokyo while chatting with us!

This was a super well edited video.. Man the first few minutes could have been TV.

When I visited Japan in the spring of 2019, never would I have imagined that I would be so very lucky to have seen the old Harajuku station in person before it was demolished. At the time the place was packed with people all headed for an equally packed Harajuku fashion street. There was a light drizzle that day but it hardly dissuaded the throngs of people eager to wade into the long and crowded place. Now an equally iconic structure is being taken down and I didn't even get to see it for myself yet.