Tokyo Tower is an icon of the city skyline. Built to be taller than the Eiffel Tower, it's also a symbol of Japan's post-war ambition. During its construction in the 1950s, there was a shortage of steel. Luckily, the U.S.A had a large number of scrap battle tanks from the war in Korea. The tanks were offered to the builders and melted down to form roughly 33% of the steel structure of the tower. Tokyo Tower is 1/3 American machine of war.
This symbolizes a shift in America's relationship with Japan from the hard warfare of WW2 in the 1940s to a 1950's soft power cultural infiltration through the communicative abilities of the tower. From bombs and B-29's to Elvis and Hollywood movies.
Tokyo Tower | Minato, Tokyo | 2013
東京タワー|東京都港区|2013年