Nakano Sunplaza is seen fenced off on June 21, 2025. The plaza in front of the building was also blocked off at the time the complex was first shuttered, but is now open to the public. (Mainichi/Satoshi Kusakabe)
The Nakano Sunplaza concert venue, which was meant to be demolished, still stands at a prime location near Tokyo’s Nakano Station. The uniquely triangular building remains fenced off, its white walls gradually becoming dirty.
The iconic venue, beloved by prominent musicians and fans from Japan and abroad, was closed two years ago with many expressing regret over its demise. Original plans envisioned replacing the complex with a multipurpose facility including a new concert hall accommodating up to 7,000 people, slated to open by fiscal 2029. However, rising construction materials and labor costs put a stop to this.
In response to the escalating expenses, the major developer overseeing the project revised the initial concept, proposing a “twin tower” design that included an expanded residential component to boost profitability. This change met fierce criticism from Nakano Ward Assembly members, who argued that it would merely result in turning the site into yet another high-rise condominium complex. Consequently, Nakano Ward sought the assembly’s approval to terminate its agreement with the developer, a motion unanimously passed in June this year. Thus, the redevelopment plans returned to square one.
In this July 2, 2023, file photo, Nakano Sunplaza chairperson, right foreground, is presented with flowers by musician Sunplaza Nakano Kun, left foreground, at the complex’s closing ceremony. The sign reads, “Nakano Sunplaza: Thank you for (the past) 50 years.” (Mainichi/Kentaro Ikushima)
Nakano Ward Mayor Naoto Sakai stated, “We determined that the revised proposal was inadequate for a project intended to represent the face of our ward even 100 years from now.” The decision by the local government and assembly to prioritize a vision aligned first with the public interest is sound and reasonable.
In recent years, many redevelopment projects across Japan have adopted similar methods — constructing high-rise office towers or luxury condominium buildings whose additional floors can be sold off to help finance construction costs. But given Japan’s ongoing population decline, is such a development model truly sustainable?
Nakano Sunplaza has existed for just over 50 years. Although the ward is now considering alternative redevelopment opportunities, some locals have voiced support for refurbishing and reusing the existing facility. What is required now is a fresh, flexible approach suited to our era of declining birth rates and a rapidly aging population. This could become an invaluable opportunity for local governments and residents to gather their wisdom and create spaces able to serve their community’s future needs.
(“Yoroku” is a front-page column in the Mainichi Shimbun.)
AloJapan.com