A new building blocks the famous Mount Fuji. The developer opted for a shocking solution: NPR

A new building in Japan obstructed the view of Mount Fuji. The neighbors were not happy.

SACHA PFEIFFER, HOST:

Have you ever cringed when a new building goes up in your neighborhood and blocks a beautiful view?

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

Yes of course. And this happened recently in a suburb of Tokyo. A 10-story residential building was built and neighbors immediately complained that it obstructed their view of the famous Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest peak. It is considered a sacred mountain.

PFEIFFER: What happened next might surprise you. The developer apologized and acknowledged that the new construction had had, quote, “a significant impact on the landscape,” and then said he would demolish the building.

KELLY: This even though its 18 condo units have already been sold. The owners were due to move in soon, so the developer says he will compensate them or help them find other accommodation.

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