10 MOST INCREDIBLE MODERN BUILDINGS IN JAPAN

The 10 Most Incredible Modern Buildings In Japan
By Abby Rogers, Business Insider, 16 April 2012.

From J-pop to Hello Kitty, Japan is obsessed with the 21st century, so it's no wonder that love of all things modern translates into architecture.

Our friends at Emporis compiled a list of 10 ultra-modern Japanese buildings that range from single-family homes to impressive skyscrapers.

Even though Japanese builders must keep the constant threat of earthquakes in mind when creating their designs, they've still managed to create architectural marvels such as the Keyhole House and Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower.

The V-shape of the Lik House in Tokyo allows for a garden in the middle of the structure. It was built in 2010 using comparatively thin concrete (Satoru Hirota Architects). Source: Emporis.

The Keyhole House in Kyoto features an exterior shaped like a keyhole and was designed for two people with two cats (Koichi Torimura). Source: Emporis.

Slit House is a low-rise residential structure in Otsu that was designed without windows. Light filters in through slits in the facade (Koichi Torimura). Source: Emporis.

Hansha Reflection House is a two-story detached residential structure in Nagoya that features a courtyard and roof deck (Jeremy San). Source: Emporis.

On the Corner in Otsu boasts four floors and stands nearly 43 feet tall. It mirrors the design of New York's Flatiron Building (Koichi Torimura). Source: Emporis.

Urbanprem Minamiaoyama in Tokyo stands at nearly 37 feet and houses commercial offices and shops. The facade curves upward, making it impossible to see the full height (Yuko Nagayama). Source: Emporis.

MON Factory/House in Kyoto boasts a series of holes in the shape of a cross across the building's facade. The house, completed in 2007, was lifted about nine feet off the ground to ensure privacy (Koichi Torimura). Source: Emporis.

Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower in Tokyo has been dubbed "The Giant Cocoon" and houses a school, cafe, and shops. It's the world's second tallest educational building (Koji Horiuchi). Source: Emporis.

Tokyo Midtown is actually a small town made up of six buildings. The buildings house stores, restaurants, offices, hotels, and museums, all surrounded by plant life (SOM | ©Shinkenchiku-sha). Source: Tokyo Midtown.

Sugamo Shinkin Bank (Shimura Branch) is a multi-coloured building in Tokyo. It opened in March 2011, and houses ATMs, teller booths, a cafeteria, and meeting rooms (Emmanuelle Moureaux, Daisuke Shimokawa/Nacasa & Partners). Source: Emporis.

Top image: Emmanuelle Moureaux (designer), Daisuke Shimokawa/Nacasa & Partners (photographer)

[Source: Business Insider. Edited.]