[6] The tower is the centrepiece of a large commercial development funded by Tobu Railway (which owns the complex) and a group of six terrestrial broadcasters headed by NHK.

From there until 375 metres the pillar is attached to the tower frame with oil dampers, which act as cushions during an earthquake.

Additional resilience is achieved through an "added mass control mechanism" (or tuned mass damper) – a damping system which, in the event of an earthquake, moves out of step with the building's structure, to keep the centre of gravity as central as possible to the tower's base.

The official name was decided in a nationwide vote, and was announced on 10 June 2008 as "Tokyo Skytree".

As the Skytree's opening approached, people reportedly waited in line for a week to get tickets.

[48] The opening day drew a crowd of tens of thousands, despite rainy conditions which blocked the view from the tower's observation deck.

Strong winds also forced two elevators to be shut down, leaving some visitors briefly stranded on the observation deck.