Ni-Tele Really Big Clock, Mechanical clock in Higashi-Shinbashi, Japan
The Ni-Tele Really Big Clock is a large mechanical artwork mounted on the facade of the Nippon Television building in Higashi-Shinbashi. The copper structure stands 12 meters (39 feet) tall and stretches 18 meters (59 feet) wide, containing 32 moving mechanical parts that work together as a timekeeping and performance system.
The artwork was designed by animation filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki and sculptor Kunio Shachimaru and installed at the Nippon Television headquarters in 2006. This collaboration between two artistic figures created a work that connects Japan's tradition of mechanical craftsmanship with contemporary design.
The clock displays moving scenes showing traditional Japanese crafts like blacksmithing and cannon work, connecting mechanical skill with human activity. These theatrical moments invite viewers to watch the connection between timekeeping and the hands that work.
The mechanical performances happen daily at set times and last about three minutes each. The artwork is visible and accessible from the street at no cost, without needing to enter the television building.
The artwork weighs around 20 tons and serves as both a precise timekeeper and an automated stage for daily performances. Its large copper parts move in complex sequences to bring traditional Japanese scenes to life across the building facade.
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