Photo/Illutration The Tower of the Sun stands as the symbol of the 1970 Osaka Expo in August 2022 in Suita, Osaka Prefecture. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

OSAKA--As a symbol, the massive Tower of the Sun created for the Japan World Exposition 1970 has no equal in its field.

Now, the iconic structure that dominates the Expo ’70 Commemorative Park in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, is being assessed on its cultural merit from the standpoints of technical history and urban planning.

A report by the Osaka prefectural government that is expected to be submitted soon to the Agency for Cultural Affairs describes the 70-meter-high tower as showcasing its “value as part of the cultural landscape.”

Hailed as a masterpiece, the structure was created by famed avant garde artist Taro Okamoto, who served as a producer for the 1970 Osaka Expo and died in 1996.

Officials said the immediate goal of Osaka Prefecture is to have the Tower of the Sun inscribed on the government’s list of important cultural properties, paving the way for its eventual recognition as a World Heritage site.

The study was done between October 2021 and May this year. Four experts weighed in on the value of the structure in terms of technology, art and city design. The report also incorporated the findings from interviews and on-site inspections.

It explains that a concrete construction method was adopted for the tower, which has three faces on its front and back as well as two “arms.”

The document notes that a concrete construction method was adopted for the building even though that type of skill was rarely used for large structures like the Tower of the Sun at the time.

A specialized technique was developed for the difficult-to-reach sections, namely the head and the arms. This, in turn, warranted a fresh assessment from the perspective of technical history.

Boasting a “distinctive” style from an artistic viewpoint, the Tower of the Sun continues to exert an influence as a public artwork that can be seen even from afar.

The tower’s significance in urban planning is underscored by the fact the report refers to the Expo ’70 Commemorative Park as a “cultural and historic site to pass down the details of Japan’s period of high economic growth to the next generation.”

The research report concludes that the Tower of the Sun, located at the park’s center, has a “symbolic meaning in the nation’s scenery and thereby holds a value as part of cultural landscape.”

It was initially anticipated that the structure would be demolished after the expo. But it was later decided to preserve it as the symbol of the international fair.

Work to make the tower quake-resistant started in 2016. The interior of the Tower of the Sun was made accessible to visitors in 2018.

Previously, former Osaka Governor Ichiro Matsui announced plans to seek World Heritage recognition for the tower in the future. The structure was registered by the central government as a tangible cultural asset in 2020.

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