The Historical Development of the Tokyo Skyline: Timeline and Morphology

Abstract

This article examines recent high-rise developments in Tokyo that have reshaped the mega-city′s identity, and in particular defines the timeline of these drastic changes on the skyline. The research has focused on buildings over 150m tall¹ in Central Tokyo,² considering construction data in light of the city′s historical development, economic models, legal framework, and technological restrictions. The objective of this research is to explain the processes that have led to the current skyline, and in particular explain the historical reasons that have led to what is often described as Tokyo′s chaotic morphology.