"Capsule" Kurokawa Considers Candidacy

[Doctor Stop]

[floatl][/floatl]Kurokawa may enter Tokyo governor race

The Yomiurine Shimbun

Internationally acclaimed architect Kisho Kurokawa indicated Wednesday he may run in the forthcoming Tokyo gubernatorial election.

Kurokawa, 72, has stated his intention to stand in the gubernatorial race to be held on April 8 unless the 74-year-old incumbent Tokyo governor, Shintaro Ishihara, abandons his plans to seek reelection.

By indicating his desire to run, Kurokawa apparently hopes to persuade Ishihara not to seek reelection for a third term.

Among his campaign pledges, Kurokawa said he intends to push for the withdrawal of Tokyo's bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games and would promote the relocation of the functions of the capital.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20070222TDY01007.htm

[Captain Japan]

Speaking of strange hotels...

Odd-shaped Tokyo hotel to be transferred to new site
Mainichi

A Tokyo hotel known for its unusual architecture, said to resemble the shape of a Christmas tree, is set to be dismantled and transferred to a new location.

Workers recently began preparations to dismantle the 26-story Sofitel Tokyo, which overlooks Shinobazu Pond in Tokyo's Ueno district.

The Sofitel Tokyo had a reputation as a high-class facility, with some rooms costing as much as 100,000 yen a night. Since it had only 83 rooms, its operators had been looking for a new site where they would be able to expand its capacity. The location of the new site was not immediately reported.

The building, which drew both criticism and praise for its unusual shape, was built in 1991, and stood as a symbol of Japan's economic bubble era. Speculation has arisen that a condominium block will be built on the site to replace the hotel, but its owners say the details are still being considered.

[Taro Toporific]

Odd-shaped Tokyo hotel to be transferred to new site--Mainichi

That's highly unusual to "dismantle" a concrete structure like that. I was not aware that it could be possible (so I guess it was built in independent stacking units).

[Doctor Stop]

That's something that could be easily done with the Nakagin Capsule Tower, or with the capsules at least.

[Captain Japan]

That's something that could be easily done with the Nakagin Capsule Tower, or with the capsules at least.

The question though is: why??? Both are screaming eyesores.

[Buraku]

So the big question is will the J-people vote for a Mo'Concrete Governor or a Blinky Xenophobe

[Doctor Stop]

Blinky Xenophobe's got it, hands down, unless the so-called opposition manage to recruit a popular TV personality.

[Doctor Stop]

Comedian Kinzo Sakura set to run in Tokyo gubernatorial race

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20070317p2a00m0na001000c.html

[DrP]

It'd look great next to this -->
Perhaps he's make an equally good governor as "Dear Father"

[Catoneinutica]

It'd look great next to this -->
Perhaps he's make an equally good governor as "Dear Father"

That unused 100-story "hotel" in Pyongyang may be the biggest commie box (as the Eastern Europeans call them), but my favorite will always be the House of Soviets in Konigsberg/Kaliningrad:



And isn't it funny how Japan probably has more commie boxes than the rest of the world put together? Hmm...it might say something about the true nature of government here.

[Doctor Stop]

The question though is: why??? Both are screaming eyesores.

I like Nakagin, it's a true concept building. In an alternate universe there could have been a few of these buildings in each city and people could move from one continent to the next via container ship.

Okay the Nakagin is decomposing, but strap some neon on it and you've got instant Bladerunner.

(for those who don't know what we're talking about)

http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14630&highlight=nakagin
http://www.arcspace.com/architects/kurokawa/nakagin/nakagin.html

[Doctor Stop]

12 file candidacies for Tokyo gubernatorial election

About a dozen people on Thursday filed their candidacies for the Tokyo gubernatorial election slated for April 8, with some 10 million voters facing a decision over whether to retain incumbent Gov. Shintaro Ishihara.

Observers say the focus of the election will be on whom people with no party affiliation vote for.

"I have been trying to solve air pollution (in Tokyo) and getting those good for nothing sankokujin on ships sailing back to where they came from," said 74-year-old Ishihara, who is seeking his third term.

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20070322p2a00m0na023000c.html

[Mulboyne]

Kisho Kurokawa is the architect. He's from Aichi so was a fairly natural choice to design Toyota Stadium which was used for the 2002 World Cup. He hasn't done much overseas but did design Kuala Lumpur. International Airport.

It has just been announced that Kurokawa has died of heart failure at the age of 73.