What is with Japan and tall buildings?

Question:

Japan has some of the most expensive real estate in the world, and some of the grandest visions for mega buildings. Yet there are no buildings over 1000'. With the rest of Asia on a mad building spree, Japan is not participating and has no building over construction over 1000'.

Why are they different than nearly every country in East Asia?

Answer:

Because Japan is a very earthquake prone country, one of the most earthquake prone countries in the world, building tall skyscrapers is not traditionally a Japanese thing to do at that height.

You don't hear about earthquakes shaking up Singapore or Hong Kong very much.

Of course some tall structures do exist in Japan, like the new Sky Tree communications tower being built.

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Concepts are often used in building other things, often like concept cars. Concept cars are often rarely built in mass production, but people keep making them. The ideas brought inside concept cars are often used in the development of other things. Building concepts like the famous Sky City 1000 were used in other buildings.

In addition, the technology might not be fully available yet. Newer futuristic building materials might exist in the future that make the idea a possibility, something that is tall but highly resistant to earthquakes and swaying in Japan's earthquake environment.

Finally, telling an architect (assuming you are one yourself) to stop developing concepts and plans, is like telling a pilot he won't be able to fly anymore, or a author he won't be able to write anymore.