Dai Heiwa Kinen Tō, Peace monument in Tondabayashi, Japan

Dai Heiwa Kinen Tō is a 180-meter peace monument in Tondabayashi, Osaka Prefecture. The white surface and clay-model-derived forms create architecture with softly rounded lines and an unusual silhouette.

The tower was built in August 1970 to honor victims of all wars without distinction of origin or religion. Its design followed a clay model created by religious leader Tokuchika Miki.

The tower is run by the Church of Perfect Liberty, which holds its annual festival and memorial service at the temple hall at its base every 1 August, praying for world peace. The hall is not open to the general public: only members of the church may enter to worship. The tower also serves as a tomb for unidentified war victims.

Access is limited to members of the Church of Perfect Liberty, who may enter only the temple hall at the base of the tower. The observation deck and elevator in the upper shaft are closed to the public. The 180-metre tower is visible from far across the Tondabayashi area.

The architectural drawings required more than one year of work because the curved forms were difficult to translate into technical plans. Today this tower is recognized as the tallest peace monument in the world.