Cranes II

The cranes and buildings just don't stop in Azabu Juban. My neighborhood is considered by many Tokyoites to be a premiere central location. It possesses the rare combination of convenience and preservation. Translation: Everything isn't soulless, ten story, bathroom-tiled buildings -- yet. Yes, I live in one of those.

But, they are working hard to transform Azabu Juban into such a neighborhood. As oldsters sell their prized family homes for insane prices, towers are built in less than one year. Here is a picture of one such building. The perspective is lovely. Tokyo does an amazing job of miniturizing construction equipment to fit the installation. Azabu Juban is filled with tiny cramped streets and yet they find a way to peacefully build a fifteen story apartment block. Try that in New York City.

More than a few things are different in Tokyo than New York City when construction occurs. For all the worrying about earthquakes, you never hear pile driving. This is constant at construction sites in New York. They appear to use slurrying techniques here to liquefy soil with huge water tanks slowing screwing pillars into place. Also, construction sites turning into gigantic, if subtle, advertising sites as contracting firms encase new towers with nylon mesh embossed with their logos to reduce dust and noise.

While my post may indicate, I am not of the BANANA party -- build absolutely nothing anywhere near anyone. This is the California-enhanced version of NIMBY -- not in my backyard. Azabu Juban will probably still maintain its peace and quiet even after most older buildings are razed for rebuilding purposes. So little new retail space is being added, oddly, in these new buildings that I don't expect foot traffic to greatly increase.

Besides, Azabu Juban, san-chome especially, is frequently busier at two and three AM (when hostesses are returning from work) than during daylight hours. Hostesses bars generally pay their fare home. Ni-chome is normally bustling with foreigners galore.