2010 July received from 日本 JAPAN - Hiromi (さっぽろテレビ塔)

~ 札幌市 Sapporo-shi, 日本 Japan ~

Thanks for Hiromi
Sent: 2nd JULY 2010

Received: JULY 2010

This card was just remember a friend-Hiromi from Hokkaido, the earth quake just happened last week, while I still haven't receive your reply, I'm here wishing you are everything fine there... 

Dear Friend, awaiting to hear from you soon... 

	The Sapporo TV Tower (さっぽろテレビ塔, Sapporo Terebi-tō?), built in 1957, is a 147.2 metre high TV Tower with an observation deck at a height of 90.38 metres. Located on the ground of Odori Park, in the northern city of Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan, the tower is open to tourists. Tourists can take panoramic pictures of Sapporo and Odori Park. HISTORY The TV Tower was built in 1957 by Tachū Naitō, a Japanese architect who is famous for planning the Tokyo Tower, with the total construction costs of 170 million yen. Since the transmission facility was established on the Mount Teine, Sapporo TV Tower has worked as a repeater of AIR-G' and FM North Wave, a radio station based in Sapporo. In 1961, digital clocks were installed at the height of 65 metres from the ground, which was donated by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., a Japanese electronics manufacturer. This installation was suggested by the founder of the company Konosuke Matsushita, who thought these digital clocks would draw a great attention to the Tower. These digital clocks, installed at four sides of the Tower, have been repaired two times: in 1998 and 2006. Interior and exterior of the Sapporo TV Tower were renovated in 2002, and the color of walls at the second and third floor was turned from pale green to dark green. In the second repair of the digital clocks in 2006, the light-emitting diode was adopted, and the advertisement right below the clocks was changed from the "National" to "Panasonic". The Sapporo TV Tower commemorated its 50th anniversary in 2007, and some events and discount campaign were held. Recently, a plan of reconstructing a new TV Tower of 650 metres high has come up. In the plan, the area of the supposed Tower would be 7800 m², and the height of the observation deck is supposed to be at 500 metres. The height of the new Tower will exceed Tokyo Sky Tree (planned to be 634 meters) if it is realized. The new Tower building is also planned to house hotel rooms, offices, and sports facilities in addition to the function as the TV tower.
	Sapporo TV Tower from Odori Park General information Location Chūō-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan Status Complete Opening August 24, 1957 Height Antenna or spire 147.2 m (483 ft) Technical details Floor count 5 Elevators 2