Charity Sale of Sony Building Commemorative Louvers

March 3, 2017

To leave something behind as a symbol of affection and gratitude for the 50 year history of the Sony Building, we held a charity benefit at the suggestion of CEO at the time Kazuo Hirai to sell the louvers which had been the characteristic of its outer wall as commemorative items.

Proceeds from the sale were donated to the "Emergency Disaster Relief and Restoration Fund for Children", which Sony has established jointly with Save the Children Japan.

Characteristics of the Sony Building

The Sony Building was built as a showroom on the corner of Sukiyabashi Crossroads in April 1966.

The building was designed by architect Yoshinobu Ashihara with a unique flower-petal structure, wherein the height of each floor was displaced 90cm, creating a seamless, continuous space from the 1st floor to the 7th floor. The louvers were utilized as a way to showcase these displaced spaces from the outside, and to evoke the design of the Eiffel Tower. They also gave a unique edge to the lighting effects of the building.

There were also 2,300 CRT TVs installed on the side of the building facing Harumi Street, and the images they created lit up the Ginza cityscape. These were all considered cutting-edge installments at the time.

Our Affection and Appreciation for Fifty Years of History

Sony Building Commemorative Louvers

We removed the louvers* that had once decorated the Ginza cityscape, cut and processed them by hand, and turned them into commemorative items—embodiments of our affection for the building's fifty-year history.

The commemorative louvers are engraved with the Sony Building logo and "Sony Building 1966-2017", the dates from the opening of the Sony Building in 1966 to its demolition in 2017.

Though it may take some time before it gets you, we will make sure to deliver it safely into your hands.

  • These are made from the louvers that were re-installed in 1992, and have the same design as the ones that were used when the building first opened in 1966.
  • Actual product may differ slightly from what is shown in the photos. They may also have scratches, stains, smudges, etc. as they were installed outside.