Hello everyone! Miyanaga from GP here.

The TODA BUILDING, which opened on Saturday, November 2 (of 2024), is a hub where art and business intersect. Let’s take a look at this trending venue together!

What is the TODA BUILDING?

Located in Kyobashi 1-Chome, the TODA BUILDING is a relatively new venue in the heart of Tokyo. So far, it’s drawn attention as a promising crosspoint between culture and business. 

This facility features an arts and culture area in the lower levels as a cultural hub originating in Kyobashi. Fortunately, this building isn’t solely limited to office workers—it’s become a cultural promotion spot where passersby can freely enjoy public art on the first and second floors.

Passing through the open square on the first floor, which can be used as a place to appreciate art or relax, you enter the entrance lobby, characterized by its large atrium and public art. The outdoor space is shared with the neighboring Artizon Museum via a pedestrian-only path, making it a sanctuary where everyone can leisurely experience art and culture—a place that adds a more enriching layer to the business district.

Background and concept of development

The TODA BUILDING was originally constructed as part of the Kyobashi 1-Chome East Area Plan. With over 120 years of business rooted in Kyobashi, the TODA Corporation took the opportunity of rebuilding its headquarters to create a spot with the following themes: “an open community and cultural hub,” “urban block redevelopment,” “strengthening disaster resilience,” and “reducing environmental impact.”

Kyobashi has long nurtured Japan’s rich culture since the Edo period, and it still thrives with cultural assets such as Antique Street. That’s why, based on the concept of “connecting people with the city,” it’s only natural that this venue is gaining attention from many different circles as a new crosspoint between art and business. This includes museums, halls & conferences, gallery complexes, creative lounges, gallery cafés, etc.

The TODA BUILDING is expected to contribute to the vibrancy and cultural value of Kyobashi—and likely become a vital spot in Tokyo going forward.

Goal: Establishing a hub for art and culture

Now, here’s a quick overview of the building’s structure:

As you can see in the diagram, it is a high-rise mixed-use building with three basement levels and 28 above-ground floors. Floors 8–27 are designated as office space, while floors 1–6 are for cultural and commercial facilities. The common areas are designed to facilitate interactions between office workers and visitors—an intentional and clever layout!

Also with disaster resilience in mind

As previously touched upon, the building employs a core wall seismic isolation structure, achieving top-tier earthquake resistance within Japan. The plaza along Chuo Avenue also features enhanced seismic isolation, making it suitable as a temporary shelter for stranded individuals during disasters—turning this into an incredibly robust facility.

In addition to a cogeneration system for emergency power supply, the building is equipped with disaster supply warehouses and more. Key equipment is located on the 7th floor to minimize flood risk—with all these safety measures in place, the TODO BUILDING is the perfect example of a stable, secure structure.

A spotlight on the arts and culture area in the building’s lower floors

On the sixth floor, the CREATIVE MUSEUM TOKYO features pop culture such as anime, manga, and music, as well as contemporary art and design. On the first floor, there’s the Gallery & Bakery Tokyo 8-fun, a café/gallery where you can enjoy bread and coffee while surrounded by art. The other lower levels of this building also boast an expansive arts and culture area that defines the building’s identity.

The CREATIVE MUSEUM TOKYO

Nicknamed “CMT,” the sixth-floor CREATIVE MUSEUM TOKYO is a space where you can view artworks, their creators, and the processes leading up to them.

The large exhibition hall is expected to host around four exhibitions annually, focusing on pop culture like anime, manga, and music, as well as contemporary art and design. The museum shop and the terrace overlooking Chuo Avenue are connected to the museum’s café, where you can enjoy original goods and themed menu items tied to each exhibit.

The Gallery & Bakery Tokyo 8-fun

Located on the first floor, the Gallery & Bakery Tokyo 8-fun is operated by THE CITY BAKERY and ArtSticker. It’s a space where you can casually enjoy art while having coffee or bread. The luxurious space, reminiscent of a museum built for art, hosts exhibitions that spotlight emerging artists that have the potential to shine in the future.

3F gallery complex

On the third floor is a luxurious gallery complex, bringing together four leading contemporary art galleries: the Taka Ishii Gallery, the Tomio Koyama Gallery, the KOSAKU KANECHIKA, and the Yutaka Kikutake Gallery.

The Taka Ishii Gallery Kyobashi

Since its opening in 1994, it has focused primarily on photography, while curating exhibitions and publishing books featuring artists from Japan and abroad.

The Tomio Koyama Gallery Kyobashi

It opened in 1996, with additional locations in Roppongi and Tennozu. It features a wide range of works by both Japanese and international artists—from skilled masters to new talent, spanning multiple generations.

The KOSAKU KANECHIKA

Opened in March of 2017 in Tennozu’s TERRADA Art Complex, this gallery represents a new generation redefining Japanese contemporary art. It introduces artists from Japan and overseas exploring unconventional modes of expression.

The Yutaka Kikutake Gallery

Since its opening in 2015, it has held many diverse exhibitions, organizing workshops and publishing projects aimed at enriching the relationship between art and society as well. 

1F/2F shared areas: Public art program APK PUBLIC

As part of the TODA Corporation’s art initiative ART POWER KYOBASHI the public art program APK PUBLIC is underway.

This program transforms the first and second floor’s shared spaces into a recurring platform for large-scale public artworks presented by emerging artists and curators, contributing to the urban landscape.

The inaugural APK PUBLIC Vol. 1 exhibition features curator Shihoko Iida, active in both Japan and abroad.

With the theme “Spiral Possibilities – Toward Infinite Chances,” works by artists Shun Onozawa, Yukie Noda, Yuko Mohri, and Atsuko Mochida are on display from November 2, 2024, to March of 2026.

Conclusion

A new crosspoint between art and business has emerged in Kyobashi, a district that’s been rich in culture since the Edo period. The prospect of new innovations born from the fusion of diverse values here is truly exciting. This venue will surely offer not only glimpses into art, business, and culture—but also a wide variety of fascinating events in the future. This is definitely a spot to keep an eye on. Now then, until next time.