Eiffel Tower is not Tokyo Tower
Eiffel Tower is not Tokyo Tower
Overview
In this livestream from December 20, 2018, John Daub stands before the Eiffel Tower in Paris and immediately sets the record straight: the Eiffel Tower is not Tokyo Tower. What begins as a quick video shoot for background footage evolves into an impromptu comparative analysis between Paris's iconic iron lattice tower and its Tokyo counterpart. John walks viewers around the Champ de Mars, noting security barriers that have transformed the experience of visiting the landmark since previous attacks in Paris.
Joined by his wife Kanae and their friend Juliet, John shares fascinating facts about both towers—their heights, construction dates, architectural differences, and the pride Tokyo took in building its tower one meter taller than the Eiffel Tower. He discusses how Tokyo Tower, once a broadcasting pioneer, is now dwarfed by surrounding skyscrapers, leading to the construction of Tokyo Skytree. Throughout, John promotes his upcoming Only in Japan Go episode that will directly compare the two structures, while also teasing another livestream from Montmartre's famous Love Wall.
Highlights
- 00:00:00 John opens with his signature catchphrase: "Welcome everybody. In front of us is the Eiffel Tower. This is not Tokyo Tower."
- 00:00:22 Observes the new security glass barriers around the Eiffel Tower, explaining Paris has increased protections due to recent attacks
- 00:02:45 Reveals Tokyo Tower was built exactly one meter taller than the Eiffel Tower as a mark of pride
- 00:03:10 Asks Kanae which tower she prefers—her diplomatic "Very difficult" response draws laughter
- 00:03:18 Jokes that "Godzilla did not attack Eiffel Tower—Godzilla is only limited to Tokyo"
- 00:06:42 Explains Tokyo Tower symbolizes Japan's post-WWII reconstruction and revival
- 00:07:45 Shares that friend Peter von Gomm is the voice of the Tokyo Tower audio guide tour
- 00:08:55 Shows HDR footage of the tower's lattice structure, praising the iPhone XS camera
- 00:10:51 Announces a second livestream from the Love Wall in Montmartre with friend Eric
Timeline / Chapters
00:00 – 01:00: Introduction at the Eiffel Tower John greets viewers from in front of the Eiffel Tower, immediately distinguishing it from Tokyo Tower. Notes the changed security environment with glass barriers now surrounding the structure. Introduces Kanae and friend Juliet.
01:00 – 02:30: Walking Around the Perimeter John walks around the Champ de Mars to get different camera angles. Observes the glass security barriers and discusses their necessity. Mentions he's gathering background footage for an Only in Japan episode comparing the two towers.
02:30 – 04:30: Comparative Discussion Begins Explains the similarities in shape between the towers. Reveals Tokyo Tower was built one meter taller than the Eiffel Tower. Asks Kanae which tower she prefers—her diplomatic answer: "Very difficult." Jokes about Godzilla only attacking Tokyo Tower.
04:30 – 06:00: Paris Context and Security Discusses the glass enclosure around the Eiffel Tower. Notes it's a smart security move given recent events. Mentions he's only in Paris for a short visit with friends, not doing a meetup.
06:00 – 07:00: Tokyo Tower Historical Significance Describes Tokyo Tower as a symbol of post-WWII reconstruction. Explains it served as NHK's broadcasting tower. Notes how it was once the tallest structure in Tokyo but is now completely surrounded by skyscrapers.
07:00 – 08:30: Technical Specifications and Peter von Gomm Mention Provides height comparisons: Tokyo Tower (333m), Tokyo Skytree (600m+). Mentions the Eiffel Tower is ten times heavier than Tokyo Tower due to construction materials and era. Reveals friend Peter von Gomm voices the Tokyo Tower audio guide.
08:30 – 09:50: Visual Comparison and Architecture Pans up the Eiffel Tower, admiring its structure. Notes the observation deck design is integrated into the tower itself, unlike Tokyo Tower where additional buildings sit inside the structure. Comments on the beauty of the lattice ironwork.
09:50 – 11:40: Wrap-up and Montmartre Announcement Reminisces about visiting Paris in 2015 with Kanae. Announces plans to livestream from Montmartre's Love Wall at 4:30 PM local time with friend Eric. Thanks viewers and says goodbye.
Japan Travel Tips
- Visiting Tokyo Tower: The tower represents Tokyo's post-WWII revival and reconstruction. It's best visited during special illuminations or events for unique photo opportunities.
- Understanding the Skytree context: Tokyo Tower is now dwarfed by surrounding skyscrapers, which is why Tokyo Skytree (634m) was built—it reaches where signals couldn't from the older tower.
- Audio guides at Tokyo Tower: Consider taking the audio tour—John's friend Peter von Gomm is the English-language voice guide.
- Stairs vs. elevators: At the Eiffel Tower, you can climb the stairs for 10 euros (cheaper than the elevator), experiencing the tower from inside the legs. Similar options exist at Tokyo Tower for a different perspective.
- Observation deck differences: The Eiffel Tower's decks are integrated into the tower's structure. Tokyo Tower has more conventional buildings inside the tower frame.
Japanese Language & Culture Notes
- 東京タワー (Tōkyō Tawā): Tokyo Tower, completed in 1958, stands 333 meters tall. It was painted International Orange to complement Japan's scenic landscape and to satisfy aviation safety regulations.
- 東京スカイツリー (Tōkyō Sukaitsurī): Tokyo Skytree, completed in 2012, reaches 634 meters and serves as Tokyo's primary broadcasting tower today.
- Mark of pride: The fact that Tokyo Tower was built exactly one meter taller than the Eiffel Tower reflects a common Japanese cultural value of respectful competition—even when paying homage to an inspiration, striving to surpass it slightly.
- Post-war symbolism: Tokyo Tower represented Japan's emergence from WWII devastation, functioning as a broadcasting beacon of the nation's technological and cultural revival.
- Orange coloring: Tokyo Tower's distinctive International Orange color was chosen to harmonize with the natural surroundings and meet aviation safety standards.
Food & Drink Guide
No food or beverage items are featured in this video.
People
John Daub — Host and narrator. An American who has lived in Japan for over 30 years, creator of Only in Japan Go. He guides viewers through the comparison between the Eiffel Tower and Tokyo Tower, sharing historical context and personal observations from both locations.
Kanae Daub — John's Japanese wife, seen responding to his questions about which tower she prefers. Her diplomatic answer ("Very difficult") provides a lighthearted moment. She and John previously visited Paris in 2015.
Juliet — A friend of John and Kanae who lives in Paris. She appears studying her phone early in the stream and mentions she comes to the Eiffel Tower "every day" (likely an exaggeration conveying her familiarity with the area) and is "tired of it."
Eric — John's friend in Paris, mentioned as someone who will join him at the Love Wall in Montmartre later in the day. John describes Eric as someone "spreading love" at the Love Wall.
Peter von Gomm — John's friend and fellow American living in Japan, mentioned as the English-language voice of the Tokyo Tower audio guide tour.
Key Takeaways
- Tokyo Tower was designed to surpass the Eiffel Tower — Built exactly one meter taller as a deliberate mark of national pride and achievement during Japan's post-war reconstruction era.
- Security has changed landmark experiences — The Eiffel Tower is now surrounded by glass barriers, fundamentally altering how visitors interact with the structure compared to years past.
- Context matters for observation towers — The Eiffel Tower stands alone with no surrounding buildings to obstruct it, while Tokyo Tower is now dwarfed by the urban forest that grew around it.
- Tokyo Skytree exists because of Tokyo Tower's limitations — The new tower was necessary because tall buildings now block the broadcast signals from Tokyo Tower.
- The towers use different architectural integration — The Eiffel Tower's observation decks are part of the structure itself, while Tokyo Tower contains more conventional buildings inside the frame.
- Material differences reflect eras — The Eiffel Tower weighs approximately ten times more than Tokyo Tower, reflecting different construction philosophies and available materials.
Notable Quotes
00:00:00 John Daub: "Welcome everybody. In front of us is the Eiffel Tower. This is not Tokyo Tower. And you can see right away, the color is all wrong."
00:02:45 John Daub: "It was built one meter taller than the Eiffel Tower. So that's something, that's a pride, that's a mark of pride right there."
00:03:10 Kanae Daub: "Very difficult."
00:03:18 John Daub: "And Godzilla did not attack Eiffel Tower. Godzilla is only limited to Tokyo."
00:06:47 John Daub: "For me, Tokyo Tower is the symbol of Tokyo in many ways. It's kind of the symbol of the reconstruction of the city after World War II."
00:07:50 John Daub: "Peter is the voice of Tokyo Tower. So if you take the audio guide, you'll hear Peter's voice."
00:08:16 John Daub: "It's just more impressive to me... it's also a lot heavier. I think it was—the Eiffel Tower in terms of weight is ten times heavier than Tokyo Tower."
Related Topics
- Only in Japan Go episodes on Tokyo Tower
- Only in Japan Go episodes on Paris and France
- Tokyo Skytree videos
- Post-WWII Japanese architecture and reconstruction
- European vs. Asian landmark comparisons
- Travel photography of iconic structures
Search Tags
#only-in-japan-go #eiffel-tower #paris #tokyo-tower #tower-comparison #france-travel #japan-travel #live-stream #december-2018 #john-daub #kanae-daub #paris-landmarks #montmartre #love-wall #peter-von-gomm #tokyo-skytree #international-orange #post-war-japan #broadcasting-tower #observation-deck
Full Transcript
Speakers:
- John Daub (HOST)
- Kanae Daub (wife)
- Juliet (friend)
Full Transcript
00:00:00 John Daub: Alright, here we are. Welcome everybody. In front of us is the Eiffel Tower. This is not Tokyo Tower. And you can see right away, the color is all wrong. This is not Tokyo Tower at all. Hi everybody.
00:00:22 John Daub: Welcome to the Eiffel Tower. And there is Kanae. And there's my friend Juliet. She's studying her smartphone. But in front of us, and interesting enough, because of all the security that has—all the security and all of the problems that Paris has had—they've glassed the wall here, which is interesting. You can see, you used to be able to walk directly underneath it and take a look up there. And I think you can, but there's a lot of security just to get into the Eiffel Tower. I've come here, ladies and gentlemen, boy look at that glass. I've come here just to take some background video for Only Japan main channel to do an episode comparing Tokyo Tower and the Eiffel Tower. And I kind of need these images. Look how fast the clouds are moving here. But there are many similarities between the Eiffel Tower and Tokyo Tower, and there are so many differences. The similarities are obviously the shape.
00:01:29 John Daub: You know, so I'm going to walk around here. Where did Juliet go? I'm going to—we're going to walk around here and take a look from the other side. Juliet, how do we get in there? How do we get in there? It's a mystery. How do we get in there to the Eiffel Tower? If we can't get in there, not to worry, because we have them on the ground here. So if you lay down on your stomach and look up, it's almost the same thing.
00:02:14 John Daub: Yeah. Hi guys. Welcome to Paris. I've actually come here just to take video, background video for the Only Japan channel of the Eiffel Tower for a future episode of Tokyo Tower. And you can see there are a lot of similarities and there are a lot of dissimilarities. Things are totally different. One of them is the shape—that's the same, but the color is all wrong. And from over here, the one thing that Tokyo has a lot of pride in is the fact that it's a place where you can see the Eiffel Tower. [The transcript contains repeated phrases here from Whisper artifact.] Well, it's a little bit different now, but it was built one meter taller than the Eiffel Tower.
00:02:51 John Daub: Tokyo Tower was.
00:02:53 John Daub: So that's something, that's a pride, that's a mark of pride right there.
00:02:57 John Daub: That's a mark of pride.
00:03:02 John Daub: Kanae, what do you think of Tokyo Tower? What do you think? Of Eiffel Tower versus the Tokyo Tower.
00:03:08 Kanae Daub: Oh, difficult.
00:03:10 Kanae Daub: Very difficult.
00:03:11 John Daub: So we have a red in Tokyo Tower.
00:03:15 Kanae Daub: Yes, a red.
00:03:16 John Daub: Not red, but...
00:03:18 John Daub: And Godzilla did not attack Eiffel Tower. Godzilla is only limited to Tokyo.
00:03:22 John Daub: That's right.
00:03:27 John Daub: I'm very well aware of that. But it is a very beautiful building. We're actually going around it, and for those that are joining us right now, there's glass around the Eiffel Tower now. You can see it right there.
00:03:40 John Daub: Oh, okay, check it out. So this is how you would get in?
00:03:47 John Daub: I don't know. I just want to get background video. I don't want to really—
00:03:52 John Daub: I don't want to really—
00:03:54 John Daub: Yeah.
00:03:55 John Daub: I watch for you.
00:03:57 John Daub: No, I don't want to. It's okay. I think maybe if I—
00:04:02 John Daub: Maybe if we just go to the front, and then that's it. I only need to get a couple of shots. So while I'm walking there, I thought I would bring you with me. It's pretty cool to be walking around the Eiffel Tower, and it's not something that you get to do every day.
00:04:19 John Daub: I think this is the exit.
00:04:21 John Daub: Yeah, I think that's the exit. You can see that they've kind of glassed in around it, so then they can control who gets near the Eiffel Tower. It's probably a smart move with all the stuff that's been going on recently.
00:04:39 John Daub: But we're live in Paris, in France, to take this all in, and I'm just going to go. And this livestream will be pretty short. Pretty short. We're just going to film it from the other side.
00:04:54 John Daub: Can I want to take some pictures too before we head off to dinner?
00:05:06 John Daub: Juliet, do you come to the Eiffel Tower a lot?
00:05:10 Juliet: Every day.
00:05:12 Juliet: Too many times.
00:05:18 John Daub: Alright.
00:05:24 John Daub: Okay. The second—so there's one, two decks, and then there's the top deck. And I've never been up to the very top of the Eiffel Tower, and I'm not going to be on this livestream. But we're going to look at it from the outside because the security protocols are just too much, and I don't have the time.
00:05:47 John Daub: Kanae and I are only in Paris to visit our friends for a couple of days. Now, I'm not doing a meetup here in Paris. I'm in France. I'm spending my time with my friends and kind of focusing on Kanae and our trip right now for a little bit.
00:06:10 John Daub: Good morning. So everybody from around the world is starting to tune in. That's really cool. It's beautiful here, and we've had really nice weather in Paris. Blue skies, a little bit of clouds. The weather is—it's a lot warmer than in Munich.
00:06:29 John Daub: So we're just going to walk over to the front of it, and I'll get some nice pictures with the way the sun is coming in. It's going to be really beautiful.
00:06:38 John Daub: But Tokyo Tower, I will be making a video on that. And for me, Tokyo Tower is the symbol of Tokyo in many ways. It's kind of the symbol of the reconstruction of the city after World War II. Finally, when Tokyo Tower was built, they used it as an NHK broadcasting tower. And it was higher than the buildings around it.
00:07:01 John Daub: And what makes the Eiffel Tower pretty impressive is that there are no other buildings around it. And it just stands so tall and proud in the center of the city here in Paris. Where now Tokyo Tower is just completely surrounded. Tokyo Tower is completely surrounded by buildings. And one of the reasons they built the new Skytree was because they couldn't get the TV signals or the signals were not going as far because there are too many tall buildings around Tokyo Tower. So the Tokyo Skytree is over 600 meters tall. Tokyo Tower is 333 meters. And the Eiffel Tower—does anybody know? Does anybody know?
00:07:48 John Daub: Yeah, just a little bit of a side note. Peter von Gomm is—Peter von Gomm is the voice of Tokyo Tower. So if you take the audio guide, you'll hear Peter's voice. So that's a pretty cool little tidbit.
00:08:00 John Daub: Good morning and welcome to the Eiffel Tower. It does—well—it does sort of resemble Tokyo Tower. But this is just more massive. It's just more impressive to me. I know that they—and it's also a lot heavier. I think it was—the Eiffel Tower in terms of weight is ten times heavier than Tokyo Tower. And it's just the type of building materials they used because I think that this was built what? Like a little bit less than a century before. It was 1880s, 1870s I think. So about 75 years before Tokyo Tower.
00:08:46 John Daub: And let me pan up to the top here. It's pretty impressive.
00:08:52 John Daub: Wow! In beautiful HDR. Thanks iPhone XS. Look at the lines on her. It's beautiful.
00:09:11 John Daub: I never ever take the lift. I always take the stairs. And the stairs is 10 euro. When I first climbed it, it was 10 francs. And now it's 10 euro to climb the stairs. And you can climb the stairs which is in the feet, the legs of the Eiffel Tower. And I don't—I'm not gonna be doing that today. I just wanted to give you a look at it. And you can see the differences between this and Tokyo Tower.
00:09:39 John Daub: Tokyo Tower also the observation deck is not even—it's not nearly as beautiful as this one. It's sort of like a—I don't know—like a building on top of the—inside of the tower. This is all the tower. That's sort of another thing. That's a difference between the two of them. The tower is all one structure. Tokyo Tower looks like it's a couple of structures just built on top of one. At least that's the feeling I got. The first observation deck in Tokyo Tower is sort of generic-ish.
00:10:06 John Daub: Where did Kanae go? Kanae, you wanna take a picture here? You wanna take a picture here?
00:10:17 John Daub: Alright, so that's all I have to say for you guys. I just wanted to spend a little bit of time here in Paris. But that is not Tokyo Tower. And that's pretty cool. That's all I have to say about that. Right?
00:10:30 John Daub: Yeah, I remember we took picture from here. That's so weird. Yeah, we were here three years ago in 2015. And we took a picture from right here. Kanae was doing your dancer pose. She had her leg like way up there. So I can't do it like that.
00:10:46 John Daub: But it's pretty cool to be here in Paris. I'm not gonna be doing a meet up. But get this, okay? In about an hour and a half, my friend Eric and I are gonna be doing a live stream from the Love Wall. So if you are in Paris, if you are and you wanna catch up with Kanae and I, you're gonna wanna go to the Love Wall in Montmartre.
00:11:10 John Daub: Montmartre. Montmartre. Montmartre. Yeah, that's right. In Montmartre. So if you go to Montmartre, we'll be at the Love Wall at 4:30. And you can catch us and say hi. And my friend Eric is one of the people that will save Paris. I believe in my heart. He's one of the people who is spreading love at the Love Wall. So we'll be there at 4:30. So bye from the Eiffel Tower. See you in an hour and a half.