YEAR ROUND SKIING IN DOWNTOWN TOKYO? 

Some people who resent the technological advances, of the Japanese, say they are not creative, that they have only developed ideas stolen from us in the first place and that they are not capable of coming up with original ideas. Well, head on.

Tokyo's visionary architect Kazunobu Abe, chief architect for the huge Kajima Corporation of Tokyo, has just sent me the outline, plans and pictures for his new artificial reality "indoor skiing resort" called "Urban Slalom". There is nothing in the world like it. No one has even been thinking in these terms and concepts. He is not limiting his thinking to this world either! How would you like to try "hot-dogging" (skiing acrobatics) on the moon - or over Manhattan -- or through a tropical coconut palm plantation? Look at it as the skier's nirvana, previously only accessible during your dreams.

He is building a mountain in downtown Tokyo, putting a 65-metrehigh, 10,000 square metre building over it (with a floor area of 33,000 sq. metres) and making it snow inside! It will be an allseason, all-weather indoor ski resort right in the heart of the world's most expensive, bustling metropolis (another is also planned for Osaka). It will be a totally new type of recreational resort that the world has never seen before.

Years ago at the Boeing Research Centre in Seattle, I "flew" the Lunar Lander in a simulated setting. It was an off-world version of the flight simulator used by major airlines to train air crews. Urban Slalom will be a further outgrowth of the same illusionary technique.

With the Japanese government pushing its citizens to increase leisure time and activities, and with economic, health and social indicators world-wide pointing to increased attention to lifestyle, Architect Abe is onto a hot new sunrise industry. He is not limiting his scope to his own country. The plan could easily be adapted, to the Caribbean or Saudi Arabia.

Urban Slalom has three ski runs (at least one with a 500 metre straight or spiral path). All have a base of 30 to 50cm of superior, scientifically-controlled powder snow laid down by nine snowmachines. Using the latest reflection techniques (spatial dramatization), ski resort-like (and other) images will show on the surrounding walls. Courses of varying lengths and slope angles -five to 30 degrees -- provide introductory, intermediate and advanced courses. Lifts quickly carry skiers back to the top of the "mountain" for maximum actual skiing time. The complex also includes fashion, gourmet and physical fitness facilities. But the highlight may be a swimming pool that you can ski into. Also included will be a communications salon, a satellite TV hall, and a golf school and range. The Kajima Corporation is striving to create an extension of everyday lifestyle, not just for a week or a couple of weekends a year, but a sports complex that would make going skiing more like going to play tennis or to the theatre. A more leisurely sport where most time is spent enjoying your leisure not in traffic hassles trying to get there. Having the fun without the discomfort (controlled temperature above ankle level).

One key marketing target area is middle-aged women, who in Japan now have the money and time to do what they couldn't in their earlier years.

The dominant themes stressed time and time again in Architect Abe's plans and promotional material are quality, quality, quality and service, service, service. The world will be beating a path to his door. You might not find him home. Rather than waiting for you to come to him, he will likely be out pushing the concept world-wide.

Expect at least one of these "artificial reality" resorts in most major world cities before the start of the third millennium. More information: Kazunobu Abe, Chief Architect, Kajima Corporation, 5-30, Akasaka 6-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107 Japan.

Phone: (03) 5561-2111.

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