Reading the article on International New York Times, I was surprised.

Why?

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/06/realestate/commercial/in-a-renewed-hotel-okura-japanese-historians-still-see-a-loss.html

 

There is hardly any attention to this major renovation project in Japan.

Why?

 

From business perspective, it is natural for Okura to scrap the 50 years old building which was built in 1962, two years before the previous 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, considering the coming 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, and fierce competition with luxury foreign competitors.

 

In my previous job, Okura was the favorite accommodation for foreign investors, and I miss the Lobby and the Orchid Bar, but in my opinion, the rooms were too small and too old despite their renowned hospitality.

 

But I agree that there could have been a better solution.

The Tokyo Central Post Office, nicely renovated to preserve and suit the requirement of today.

Taisei Corporation, one of the top five construction companies in Japan,  which was founded by Mr. Okura, should have the clue.

 

Combining the old Japanese carpentry technique with new technology to produce new type of Master Architect (棟梁) is one of our major business strategy.