English

The tallest building in Japan built with wooden pillars and walls has been completed in Yokohama. It has 11stories and is 44 meters high.

Explanation

「階（kai）」 means “story” or “floor.” So in Japan the ground floor is 「1階（ikkai）」, and from there it’s 「2階（ni-kai）」, then 「３階（san-gai）」. The first floor basement or “B1” is 「地下1階（chika ikkai）」, and below that would be 「地下2階（chika ni-kai）」.
「階」 indicates the number of floors, and「建て（date）」 tells us that this is a building or structure. 「11階（juuikkai）」 alone would refer to the 11th floor. 「11階建て」, on the other hand, tells us the building has a total of 11 floors above ground.

English

The pillars and other elements of the frame consist of three layers of wood combined together for increased strength. Special technology has been used to prevent rain from seeping into the wood.

English

The company that constructed the building claims that the structure can withstand a large earthquake of an intensity of seven on the Japanese seismic scale.

English

It is said that wooden buildings reduce carbon dioxide emissions associated with construction.

Explanation

When we want to say a building is made of wood, we say 「木造（mokuzoo）」. So 「木造の建物（mokuzoo no tatemono）」 means “wooden structure,” and 「木造の住宅（mokuzoo no juutaku）」 means “wooden house.” If the building is made of concrete, we say 「コンクリート製の建物（konkuriitosee no tatemono）」. 「二酸化炭素（ni-sanka-tanso）」 is CO2. The burning of fossil fuels releases CO2 into the atmosphere, contributing to pollution and climate change. Wooden structures leave a smaller carbon footprint than conventional structures built with steel and concrete.

English

According to the company, the carbon dioxide emitted was about 25% of what would have been produced by building with steel or concrete. The company says it hopes to make condominiums and hotels out of wood in the future.