What The Heck Is That? Asahi's Golden Flame

Above, Asahi Beer Headquarters and Hall in Tokyo.

Text and photos by Armand Vaquer

One of the interesting things about visiting Japan is seeing their unique architecture and art.

Above, Nakamise Avenue shops and shoppers.

One such item is the Asahi Beer Headquarters and Hall in the Sumida section of Tokyo. It is just across the Sumida River from Asakusa. Asakusa is a main tourist draw in Tokyo with its Nakamise Avenue shops for all kinds of Japanese goods including Japanese dolls, toys (I've bought some kaiju toys there), yukatas & kimonos, candies, swords, knick-nacks, porcelain, fans, lacquer ware, leather goods, art and other items. Asakusa has many restaurants ranging from sushi to Denny's.

Above, the "golden flame" of the Asahi Beer Hall is seen from an Asakusa street near Nakamise Avenue.

A part of the Asahi Beer Hall is the "golden flame" sculpture (or, kin no unchi, which is Japanese for “gold turd”) that was created by the French designer Philippe Starck. People seeing it for the first time ask, "What's that?" Many think it looks like a turd (hence the term, "golden turd"), sperm or, as some Godzilla fans think, a golden version of Hedorah (the "Smog Monster").

At night, the golden flame is lit up and can be seen for miles. It is just a little bit down the Sumida River from where the new Tokyo Sky Tree Tower is under construction.