Tokyo Sky Tree unlikely to take root

When new names are forced down the public’s throat, sometimes they get regurgitated. Back in the late 1980s, when Japan National Railways was broken up and privatized, somebody suggested the name “Kokuden”—the name applied to its network of short-distance commuter lines in the capital—be modified to “E-Den” to better reflect the name of the JNR’s successor, East Japan Railway Company.

This catchy new name was ignored by passengers and the media alike, who now mostly refer to it simply as the JR.

Likewise for Tokyo Dome, which replaced the old Korakuen baseball stadium in 1988. Its operators encouraged fans to call it the “Big Egg,” after the appearance of its curved white roof. That idea laid an egg with baseball fans, who were comfortable with Tokyo Dome.

Nikkan Gendai (June 18) uses these examples to suggest that Tokyo Sky Tree—the new nickname recently announced for the 610-meter-high tower to be erected on the Tobu Railway yards in Sumida Ward – isn’t likely to take root. The new moniker was selected by a public campaign offering six candidates, which included Tokyo Edo Tower and Yumemi Yagura (watchtower of dreams).

“It doesn’t seem to be a name people are likely to take to,” remarks Chiharu Hirabayashi, a professor at the Tohoku University of Art and Design in Yamagata. “To people, a structure standing higher than 600 meters is going to have the image of a tower. A tree isn’t very ‘tower-like.’ And it’s a difficult word to memorize.

“In their minds, I think many people have already become used to the name they referred to it by before the announcement—New Tokyo Tower,” Hirabayashi adds.

Nikkan Gendai agrees. People will probably refer to the new landmark as New Tokyo Tower, and that will be that. After all, when organizations come up with names that fail to excite or inspire the public, there’s no downside to ignoring them.

“I suppose they’re in the process of coming up with a mascot character to convey the image of something that shoots up to the sky, you know, like in the story of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk,’” Hirabayashi suggests. “After it’s completed, they ought to illuminate the tower to make it resemble a tree, and then maybe the nickname would catch on with the public.”

Or perhaps, Nikkan Gendai suggests cynically, they might at least consider reserving the “tree” decorations exclusively for the Christmas season.

Latest 15 of 30 Total Comments Show All

noborito at 09:14 AM JST - 19th June

I am sure it will be "The New Tokyo Tower" or how about "Mega Tower" that seems to be the word of choice lately.

But in the end, I'm sure it will be "The New Tokyo Tower"
tkoind2 at 09:27 AM JST - 19th June

Terrible name. How about "Just another Eyesore"?
taj at 09:29 AM JST - 19th June

New Godzilla Perch

That would've got my vote.
ninjaboy at 10:06 AM JST - 19th June

taj - "new godzilla perch" Yes! lol!!!
Hughgarse at 04:23 PM JST - 19th June

When thinking of these names, there needs to be a common sense

hahaha. this is Japan fella.. no common sense to speak of..

Plus tree in Japan would be pronounced tlee, so I hope they scrap that name altogether..
Jandals at 04:36 PM JST - 19th June

is it going to have a massice Kitty-chan or Doraemon hanging off it?
sabinuki at 04:47 PM JST - 19th June

is it going to have a massice Kitty-chan or Doraemon hanging off it?

I believe there will be millions of them and other pieces of crap hanging in the lobby, but at sky high prices.
vagrant at 05:04 PM JST - 19th June

I think "Tokyo Tree", or "Tokyo Sky Tower" might end up as the alternative. If they lit it up green at night, or even blue, it would help with the branding and might happen with the trend of "eco". Perhaps light it green that slowly changes to blue as it reaches 12AM. Anyways, it's going to be one hell of an object in the skyline.
Sarge at 05:08 PM JST - 19th June

I'm looking foward to seeing Godzilla destroy Tokyo Sky Tree in the next Godzilla movie.
pathat at 10:06 PM JST - 19th June

Tokyo Sky Tree unlikely to take root

It might not take root, but its support base had better be strong enough to withstand the next Great Kanto Earthquake, or we will have one helluva a lot of crushed structures in the general vicinity when it Timmmmbers!
LikingJapan at 07:46 AM JST - 20th June

Tokyo Tower When new roads or bypasses are built the same name is often used. Rarely is a New, Old,and never A or B used. Many older building are torn down. So it is likely that the "old/original" Tokyo Tower won't last much longer and the term NEW will be redundant as most people will have forgotten about the OLD one.
Sagecat at 03:59 AM JST - 23rd June

Shin Tokyo Tower. Done. Perfect.
realist at 02:38 PM JST - 24th June

How about "Tokyo A-SU Towaa?" A-SU as in Earth - not the other one, thought Id be tempted....
RepublicofTexas at 01:02 PM JST - 1st July

Plus tree in Japan would be pronounced tlee, so I hope they scrap that name altogether..

The Japanese don't have any trouble pronouncing R's, just L's, not that it really matters or anything.
cleo at 01:21 PM JST - 1st July

Plus tree in Japan would be pronounced tlee

No, the pronunciation is tsuree, with the r halfway between an r and an l.

And as the Republic of T points out, it don't really matter anyways.