RARE 1988 Hitachi TOUCH SENSITIVE Traction Low Rise Elevators at Shinjuku L Tower in Tokyo, Japan

Filmed on July 12th, 2025. Sadly as of my visit to Tokyo, this was the only bank of elevators in this building to still have any original elevators left as I had JUST missed the last original high rise car here (as seen in a previous video) by just mere weeks, but at least I got to see something original here so I can't really complain too much. Compared to the High Rise Elevators here which go 1200 FPM for ONLY 30 Floors, these go 600 FPM, however considering the fact that this bank only serves 12 floors, that's still pretty fast relative to the height! These elevators were really cool featuring the round version of Hitachi Touch Sensitive buttons as well as these VERY UNIQUE & COOL LOOKING & FUTURISTIC LOOKING Indicators that kind of resemble the Wheel of Fortune in terms of their appearance! I've NEVER seen an indicator that looks quite like this in the U.S., these elevators were just another one of MANY Japanese elevators to feature something very unique in terms of their design that were designed the way they were just cause they could be! The fixtures are VERY COOL & VERY RARE too, this was the only other bank of Hitachi Elevators I saw on this trip with this style of Touch Sensitive buttons aside from the one at Saikaya Fujisawa which had the Square version of these fixtures. However, Saikaya Fujisawa was installed in 1978 and that elevator was very obviously relay controlled. I'm not 100% sure if these elevators are Relay Logic or not, controller wise these behave like it, however I did not hear any generators or relays upon reaching the top floor. As for the fixtures, they were first made in the Mid 1960s back when Otis was installing elevators with Touch/Heat Sensitive Vacuum Tube fixtures in the U.S., and the earlier installs by Hitachi with these fixtures from the 60s up until the early 80s clearly used very similar technology, however given that this is a 1988-89 installation, I'm not 100% sure if these are Vacuum Tube buttons or if they are digital but just use a similar design and halo color as the older installations do. Either way, whatever they are, these are definitely very cool elevators and in addition to having super cool indicators and fixtures, the cabs look VERY FUTURISTIC & COOL too with Sci-Fi looking lights and lines in the cabs, and the doorbell lantern chimes that many older Japanese High Rise elevators have that these have sound absolutely musical too. Unfortunately, just like the High Rise & Mid Rise Elevators here have already been, these elevators are going to be fully modernized if not completely replaced, all except unlike the High Rise bank which was both installed & replaced by Toshiba, this bank not only was installed by Hitachi but will also be replaced by them. At the time of my visit, the first elevator in this bank had just entered service (and looks identical to the High Rise elevators here I filmed indicators, voices and chimes aside), one had just began modernization, and 2 were still original. Again, it's a shame I missed out on the High Rise elevators here, but at least I got these just in time and I'm definitely happy that I did! If you guys are visiting Tokyo anytime soon and want to see these elevators, I'd highly advise coming here within the next 6-10 months as it takes about 5-6 months for a single elevator here to be modernized. For those wondering, no I did not make it only the Mid Rise Elevators (which were installed & replaced by Fujitec) as those have already been fully modernized and completed for at least a couple years now and my time was limited, but if you're interested, feel free to watch ‪@VancityElevators‬ video here:    • 【フジテック】新宿エルタワーの中層用エレベーター Fujitec Traction ...   I hope you guys enjoy the video, this one being of some VERY COOL & UNIQUE Hitachi's that are sadly about to be replaced.... Installed in 1988. Being Modernized/Replaced in 2025-2026. (Hitachi with New Cabs, New Motors, New Cabs, New Controllers, etc. Will be a total replacement minus the doors and lanterns) Camera details: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Mic: Built In (c) 2025 Floridian Elevators Productions