Shibuya's "Pit-Dwelling Style" Building Ends 40-Year History: Former Miki Prune Tokyo Headquarters to be Demolished for Redevelopment

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Overview and Naming of the "Pit Dwelling" Building

3. Designer Yuzo Nagata and 1980s Postmodern Architecture

4. Miki Prune and Sanki Trading: Corporate History and Building Functionality

5. Overview of the Shibuya Station East Exit Redevelopment

6. Background and Schedule Leading to Demolition Decision

7. Contents of the New "Shibuya Higashi 3-Chome Development Project"

8. Preservation or Urban Renewal: Domestic and International Debates

9. Voices of Citizens and Architecture Fans on Social Media

10. Impact on Shibuya Culture

11. Technical Data Collection of the Pit Dwelling Building

12. Comparison of Global "Unusual Architecture" Preservation and Demolition Cases

13. Summary and Future Prospects

1. Introduction

In the area around Shibuya Station, a large-scale redevelopment described as "once in a century" continues. While high-rise complex facilities like Scramble Square and Shibuya Hikarie are being completed one after another, unique buildings that once colored the bubble era are quietly disappearing.

This article focuses on the "Pit Dwelling of Shibuya" building, a symbol of this trend, detailing its architectural value, the background leading to its demolition, and the full scope of the redevelopment of its site in a comprehensive 10,000-character analysis.

2. Overview and Naming of the "Pit Dwelling" Building

• Official Name: Former Tokyo Headquarters Building of Sanki Trading

• Location: 3-9-7 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku (behind Shibuya Police Station)

• Structure and Scale: RC structure, 1 basement floor / 8 above-ground floors, total floor area approx. 8,500㎡

• Completion: 1985 (Showa 60)

• Shape: Conical shape tapering towards the top. Randomly arranged slit windows in a staircase pattern evoke the image of a "pit dwelling burrowing underground," which led to its nickname on social media.kicks-blog.com

3. Designer Yuzo Nagata and 1980s Postmodern Architecture

Yuzo Nagata (1948–) won an in-house competition for this building while at Takenaka Corporation, and later established Nagata Associates independently. He is known for bold designs such as the Wakayama "Hotel Kawakyu."

In 1980s Tokyo, architects like Arata Isozaki and Kisho Kurokawa were exploring postmodern expressions while drawing on the Metabolism movement, and this building reflects that atmosphere. The exposed concrete finish of the exterior walls, minimal openings, and fortress-like massing were intended as a "sculptural object in urban space."biz.shibuyabunka.com

4. Miki Prune and Sanki Trading: Corporate History and Building Functionality

Sanki Trading, known for Miki Prune, was founded in 1966. It rapidly grew through door-to-door sales of health foods, and this building was completed in 1985 as a symbol of elevating its Tokyo branch to "Tokyo Headquarters."

The company's internal newsletter at the time introduced it as a "spaceship with a view to the global market," featuring a showroom, training center, and laboratory. After relocating to Shibuya Hikarie in 2022, it was used as a short-term rental tenant building.kicks-blog.com

5. Overview of the Shibuya Station East Exit Redevelopment

The east exit area redevelopment promoted by Shibuya Ward, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and JR East defines the area surrounded by Miyamasuzaka, Meiji-dori, and Roppongi-dori as the "Shibuya Station East Exit District." It aims for completion in the early 2030s, focusing on expanding pedestrian decks, creating a water-friendly space along the Shibuya River, and attracting IT startups.

The Shibuya 3-chome East Block, where the building stands, is planned to be rebuilt into a complex of mid-scale buildings with lush open spaces.city.shibuya.tokyo.jp

6. Background and Schedule Leading to Demolition Decision

• October 2024: Redevelopment association established targeting five surrounding buildings

• June 30, 2025: Tenant evacuation completed

• Mid-July 2025: Scaffolding assembly and interior demolition begin

• End of May 2026: Structural removal scheduled to be completed

• November 2026: Vacant land handed over
  Demolition costs are estimated at approximately 1.4 billion yen, with some of the waste concrete expected to be recycled for the redevelopment of the Shibuya River embankment.x.com

7. Contents of the New "Shibuya Higashi 3-Chome Development Project"

A project promoted by Sapporo Real Estate Development. It will be a 10-story building with a total floor area of 1,970㎡, intended for office and dining use. The concept is a "workplace where green and art sprout." Completion is scheduled for November 2025, in conjunction with strengthening the surrounding pedestrian network.prtimes.jp

8. Preservation or Urban Renewal: Domestic and International Debates

Similar to discussions about the Nakagin Capsule Tower (Ginza) and Kenzo Tange's Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building low-rise wing, the preservation movement for this building did not gain momentum. The reasons include ① private ownership with no administrative designation, ② soaring land prices around Shibuya Station, and ③ the enormous cost of seismic reinforcement. On the other hand, there are persistent voices questioning whether there was a way to utilize it as a cultural asset, drawing comparisons to the regeneration of the Barbican Centre in the UK and the High Line in NY.

9. Voices of Citizens and Architecture Fans on Social Media

On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag "#FarewellTourOfShibuyaPitDwelling" trended, and spontaneous photo sessions were held. Comments expressing both regret and anticipation, such as "Another monster from the end of the Showa era disappears" and "What will be built next?" were shared.x.com

10. Impact on Shibuya Culture

After the building's demolition, subculture shops in back alleys will be forced to relocate, while the new building is planned to include a community space as a startup support hub. While Shibuya's "creative destruction" continues, soft measures are needed to ensure the city's multilayered nature is not lost.

11. Technical Data Collection of the Pit Dwelling Building

12. Comparison of Global "Unusual Architecture" Preservation and Demolition Cases

• London: Birmingham's Central Library (Brutalism) → Demolished in 2016

• New York: Old Penn Station → Demolished in 1963, led to the creation of the Landmark Preservation Commission

• Tokyo: Nakagin Capsule Tower (1972) → Demolished in 2022, capsules resold
  
  

Compared to these, the building had weak "contextuality with the surrounding environment," and the decision on public support was a decisive turning point.

13. Summary and Future Prospects

The demolition of the "Pit Dwelling" building symbolizes Shibuya's relentless change. At the same time, it poses the challenge of how to pass on the legacy of the postmodern era to the next generation. A viewing path is planned to be set up at the demolition site from the summer of 2025, offering a chance to capture its last majestic appearance in photos. After the completion of the new building, part of the former curved exterior wall is planned to be reused as facade art, and there is hope that fragments of memory will be carried into the future.

List of Reference Articles

• SHIBUYA CULTURE PROJECT "Walking the Shibuya 3-Chome East Area" (June 13, 2024)biz.shibuyabunka.com

• kicks-blog "The 'Mysterious Conical Building' Behind Shibuya Police Station to be Demolished" (July 2, 2025)kicks-blog.com##HTML_TAG_