Because this is Japan and 'cool' takes precedents over safety or practicality, Mori built thes huge revolving doors at the entrance of Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills.
Now these are no ordinary revolving doors; ones of a normal size that you push yourself. These are huge, heavy swinging doors that fit up to seven people in the walking compartments, and turned by a motor; if you touch the doors, they stop. Which can be fun in it's own devious way - get out, turn around, touch the door, trap everyone left behind.
Well these doors look cool, but they're slow and a pain in the ass. They supposedly 'detect' when someone's in the door, and move faster.. Theoretically... At times, they don't work and I'm left in within the door, waving frantically at the IR receiver... that still doesn't detect me; It's cool. It doesn't work. It's Japan.
Well these totally cool, inefficient, and yes, dangerously heavy swinging doors have one safety measure, as I said; they stop when touched..
But the safety measure has a terrible flaw; The revolving action stops, but the doors are locked in that position, waiting to continue in the same direction after a 4-second pause - Great when you're in a rush. Not so great when... your 5-year old son GETS HIS HEAD STUCK IN THE DOOR!
Child gashes head, security gaurds attend to door, ambulance takes 30 minutes, no one thinks of contacting Clinic on 6th floor, boy dies a slow, cold blood-letting death, no one's accountable.. Shouganai.
Interestingly enough, I commented to my friend about 5 months ago how dangerous/inefficient/impractical these swinging doors of death appeared.
Another strange fact; they're made to slide open as well.. like any other train doorway.. I bet on Monday, they all slide..
GJ's Roppongi Hills DEATH Predictions:
-- Outside walkway covered with slats of glass (could be plexiglass) 1.5 meters long, 25cm wide, fastened to the walk at two small points.
DEATH PREDICTION: Typhoon rips glass weapon from walkway, decapitates would-be shopper.
-- Badly lit steps 80 cm wide, 5 cm high.
DEATH PREDICTION: Obaachan accustomed to 'normal' steps doesn't see mini-steps, falls, breaks hip, dies.
-- Door to stairway, within the business section of tower, open directly over the top of the steps.
DEATH PREDICTION: Worker opens door to stairs while talking to colleague behind him, falls down steps, dies.
There's more, but this is getting too long..
Poor mother..
Goes to Roppongi Hills with her son for a worthless day of window shopping.. Ends up experiencing the Roppongi Hills PLAYPEN OF DEATH!(Haven't seen anything on the news.
Disclaimer - I heard this from a co-worker who was there)
GJ
)
Must be of the Pentecostal sect.. The Buddhists got it right]