The western side of Shinjuku Station is like no other place in Tokyo, or in Japan. A long tunnel leads from the station to this area, and when you emerge it’s like you’ve found something hidden. Most places in central Tokyo are a mishmash of poorly coordinated development, a bird’s nest of wires overhead, layers of plastered signs, and exhaust fume tinted concrete. This place presents an alternative vision of modern Japan, one that would never stand a chance on a wider scale in this country. Behind me, as I took this picture, is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. That is probably the source of all this order in the immediate vicinity: an image to frame a perception. The newest addition to the collection is the HAL building, the rocket ship, a school that teaches students to write software for computer games.
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Shanghai has a similar area across the river called Pudong. （浦东, lit. East of the (huang)Pu river) It’s the new financial district, home of the city’s most famous skyscrapers , super wide streets and a totally un-Chinese feel.
I guess it’s all about image, and creating an atmosphere for big business. Every company in Japan seems to crave an office in Shinjuku.