Tokyo's Palaceside Building turns 60: The story behind 6 doves symbolizing peace

TOKYO -- The Palaceside Building, located in Chiyoda Ward and housing over 100 offices, celebrated its 60th anniversary on October 1. Standing in front of the Imperial Palace's greenery, the iconic office building was recognized as one of 20 key works of modern architecture in Japan. Sculptor Kunihiko Isshiki was commissioned to create six aluminum doves for the building, symbolizing peace and reflecting the anti-Vietnam War movement of the time.

Isshiki explained that the doves were chosen because the building stood directly in front of the Imperial Palace, the Mainichi Newspapers had used carrier pigeons for communication, and the doves represented peace. The Palaceside Building, with its nine floors above ground and six below, features two white cylindrical towers and a fully glass-walled exterior.

The building's rooftop has been greened since its opening. Architect Shoji Hayashi, who designed the building, was known for creating rational and functional structures, having witnessed the aftermath of war and faced personal tragedy during the Pacific War. The doves, each about 45 centimeters in size, remain a striking presence near the Palaceside Building's rooftop, symbolizing peace and architectural beauty.