60 Years of Japan, As Told By Godzilla

Above, the Godzilla statue in HIbiya, Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since World War II, Japan has gone through many phases over the past seven decades.

The 1950s saw reconstruction of the country following the end of World War II. 1960s saw Japan become an economic powerhouse (becoming the world's number 2 economic power) with optimism for a bright future. The 1970s saw Japan deal with pollution and the energy crisis. Japan's economic bubble began in the 1980s, only to have it burst in the 1990s.

Through these times, Godzilla movies reflected the times and many of the issues Japan faced, and Jim Ballard of SciFi Japan TV puts them all together in an article at GaijinPot. The article looks at these eras as seen through Godzilla's eyes for his 60th anniversary, "60 Years of Japan, As Told By Godzilla."

To read the article, go here.

Tokyo Sky Tree Photos

Above, a view of the Tokyo Sky Tree Tower from Asakusa taken December 6.

One of the things in Tokyo I wanted to see was the Tokyo Sky Tree Tower that is currently under construction.

The Sky Tree will replace Tokyo Tower in 2012 as the primary broadcasting tower in Tokyo as Tokyo Tower was deemed too short for digital broadcasting.

Back on September 15, Jim Ballard took this photo of the Sky Tree from across the Sumida River:

Above, a beautiful evening shot of the Sky Tree Tower
 taken September 15. Photo courtesy of Jim Ballard.

Above, a zoom shot of the Sky Tree from Asakusa two weeks ago. Compare
the construction progress of this photo with Jim's of three months ago.

The next two photos were taken December 12:

Above, a lucky shot of the Sky Tree between two
 buildings from a moving Narita Express train.

As you can see in comparing Jim Ballard's photo of September 15 with mine of December 6 and 12, much progress has been made on the Tokyo Sky Tree Tower.

Sky Tree Tower: Already Impressive!

Above, a beautiful evening shot of the Sky Tree Tower
 taken September 15. Photo courtesy of Jim Ballard.

Sky Tree Tower: Already Impressive!

by Armand Vaquer

Category: Travel

The new Tokyo Sky Tree Tower that is currently under construction is already an impressive structure.

The Sky Tree is being built for digital broadcasting as Tokyo Tower has been deemed too short for this purpose. The new tower is set to open in 2012.

Jim Ballard, who lives across the Sumida River from the Sky Tower's construction site, took the above photo on September 15. As you can see, much progress has already been made and it is already the tallest structure in Tokyo.

I am currently planning a vacation trip to Japan later this year and am looking forward to seeing the Sky Tree.

For more information on the Sky Tree, go here.