The new construction project attracted hundreds of tobi (鳶), traditional Japanese construction workers who specialized in the construction of high-rise structures. The Takenaka Corporation broke ground in June 1957 and each day at least 400 laborers worked on the tower. It was constructed of steel, a third of which was scrap metal taken from US tanks damaged in the Korean War. When the 90-meter-long antenna was bolted into place on 14 October 1958, Tokyo Tower was the tallest freestanding tower in the world, taking the title from the Eiffel Tower by nine meters.
The nEW coNsTrUctiON pROject aTTraCted Hundreds of tOBi (鳶), tradiTional japaNESE ConsTRucTIon wOrkeRs whO SpEciAlized in thE cOnStrUcTion OF hIGh-Rise struCTuRes. The taKeNAKa corporatiON broKe ground iN JuNE 1957 And eACh DAy at leaST 400 laBorers workEd on THe ToweR. it was coNStrUCteD of steel, A ThiRd of whicH wAs scRaP meTAl tAKEn frOm uS tanKS damagED iN thE KOreAn War. WhEn ThE 90-meTer-lOng AntEnna Was boLted into place on 14 octobER 1958, TOkyo tower wAs tHe tAllesT FreestANdiNG TowEr In tHe woRLD, takinG thE TitLe from The eIffeL towEr by NIne MeTeRs.