100 Stories1976 Suncity, the Large Private Urban Redevelopment Project

In 1976, sales began for Suncity, the largest urban redevelopment project undertaken by a private company at the time. Suncity was a large-scale new development that the Housing Division, in collaboration with Mitsui Fudosan, had developed on the former site of Shimura's Technical Research Institute in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo.

The total project cost was approximately 40 billion yen, and the planning and sales of the town, which took about four years, included the first 23-story high-rise residential building in Japan. Suncity, a big project, was the forerunner of Asahi Kasei's subsequent urban development projects.

The town was designed with an emphasis on nature and open space, with an elementary school, shopping center, bank, supermarket, specialty stores, medical clinic, and culture center all built on the land. The site is approximately 130,000 m² in size and has a capacity of 5,800 people, literally forming a new town.

Combined with its favorable location, which is only about 25 minutes to Hibiya via the Toei Subway Line No. 6 (now the Mita Line), sales were brisk, and some units were sold by lottery. Dozens of Asahi Kasei employees also purchased units, and the building was well received within the company.

Construction of Suncity, which had been underway since 1976, was completed in 1980, with sales and occupancy already starting during the development. The completion ceremony was held on September 9, 1980.

The completion ceremony was attended by the management team, including then Asahi Kasei President Kagayaki Miyazaki, Vice Presidents Tetsuo Takada and Keita Tsudzuki, and Managing Director Nobuo Yamaguchi. A splendid lineup of executives from Mitsui Fudosan, Mitsui Construction, Kajima Corporation, and other companies involved with Suncity were also in attendance.

Miyazaki said, “I am pleased with Suncity, which was completed with the cooperation of many people, not only as a successful housing business run by a private company, but also as a contribution to the national housing policy.

Japan's rapid economic growth was accompanied by a housing shortage due to the concentration of population in urban areas, which led to soaring rent prices and a shortage of land, making it difficult for people to commute to work due to the remoteness of housing. Miyazaki expressed his satisfaction with the success of the project itself and its contribution to the housing crisis.

Suncity, which was designed around having an excellent neighborhood environment, a good residential community with festivals and club activities, and among the richest greenery in Tokyo with 50,000 trees planted, continues to be loved today without fading away.

This is reflected in the Prime Minister's Award received in 2013 at the 33rd Green City Awards. The award came more than 30 years after its completion.

In recent years, the company has developed urban redevelopment projects and condominium reconstruction projects throughout Japan, and has established a pioneering position in the condominium reconstruction business in particular. Asahi Kasei has also received several Good Design Awards, based on many lessons learned from Suncity, which has become a cornerstone of the company's business.