Vanishing Japan

A visual celebration and record of Japan’s demolished postwar architectural gems and a look at why they’ve been torn down.

As in other countries, not every mid-century modern building in Japan can be, or even deserves to be saved. Yet a swathe of these works―those that achieved new architectural milestones and those that became landmarks in the public eye―warrant international attention. Vanishing Japan is the first book to shine a light on these gems, becoming an important record of buildings that have already been lost and making their memory available to a wide, global audience.

The book focuses on some ninety buildings demolished since 2000, while the introduction, afterword, and “deep dive” interludes provide additional context. The project selection features beloved theaters, shopping centers, and offices built between the 1950s and 1970s, with select examples from the ’80s and ’90s as well. While many of these buildings were in Tokyo and Osaka, the book draws on examples from all over the country, charting the once recognizable local landmarks that continue to inspire as examples of architectural innovation.

High real-estate values, engineering improvements amid frequent earthquakes, and maintenance costs are just a few of the reasons that buildings are regularly torn down in Japan. All these and more are explored in this insightful, accessible book that will have readers look at their own built environment in a different light.

169 illustrations